Chinese Media Mogul Convicted of U.S. Election Interference Flies Off Into the Unknown

Qin Hui, a Chinese billionaire and media mogul, was convicted in the U.S. for a straw donor campaign contribution scheme and other crimes. [para. 1] He was sentenced to seven months in prison and two years of supervised release for making political contributions in the names of others, committing immigration fraud, and producing a false identification document. [para. 2] As part of a plea deal, Qin relinquished his fraudulently obtained U.S. permanent resident status and was deported to an unspecified country. [para. 3]

Qin, who previously owned a luxury nightclub in Beijing and built a film empire through various acquisitions, gained early prominence by using personal connections and leveraging the profitability of his businesses. [para. 4][para. 10] However, he later fled to the U.S. following involvement in corruption scandals and financial troubles, wherein he was eventually arrested in Manhattan. [para. 5]

In March, Qin pleaded guilty to making illegal campaign contributions amounting to $11,600, using other people's names to circumvent laws prohibiting non-citizen contributions. His lawyer stated that he only wanted to participate in elections like a citizen. [para. 6][para. 7] He also admitted to committing immigration fraud by applying for a green card and a Florida driver’s license using a false name and fake documents. [para. 8]

Qin was born in Daxian, Sichuan province, in 1968. He moved to Beijing, where he later became prominent by profiting from the iron ore trade and investing in a luxury nightclub, Passion. [para. 16] Known for its lavish environment and significant profits, Passion helped Qin network with influential figures, contributing to his rise in wealth. [para. 17] Qin became a public figure when he purchased an expensive Bentley car in 2003. [para. 18]

Qin built his fortune through strategic investments and divestments in China's stock market during the early 2000s. He incorporated Zhuojing Investment Holdings Co. Ltd. and later SMI Corp., which grew into a media conglomerate. However, his ventures in Hong Kong were less successful, resulting in several financial losses. He was considered a quasi-underworld figure lacking integrity in business dealings. [para. 20][para. 21]

Financial struggles led Qin to bribe high-ranking officials to secure loans. He bribed Zhang Enzhao, former chairman of China Construction Bank, and Li Peiying, former chairman of Capital Airports Holdings, to obtain significant loans. Both officials were later sentenced for their roles in these bribery scandals, though it is unclear whether Qin faced punishment for his involvement. [para. 28][para. 29][para. 30]

Global financial difficulties worsened for Qin in 2004, and he tried to revive his SMI brand in the 2010s. By 2017, SMI Holdings had become one of China's top three cinema chains but eventually failed due to unmet box office expectations and competition, leading to debt and closed cinemas. [para. 31][para. 32][para. 33]

Qin’s final significant venture involved a failed backdoor listing attempt with Zhongzhi Group, resulting in a legal dispute. Qin’s company was accused of being untrustworthy, and he was barred from the securities market for five years. He was ordered to pay significant damages. [para. 34][para. 35]

Before his deportation from the U.S., Qin applied for personal bankruptcy. Despite the creditors' efforts to claim his assets, the U.S. court found no enforceable assets. Qin's lawyer expressed confidence in Qin’s future business prospects. [para. 39][para. 40]

Despite his legal troubles, Qin might regain prominence in international business, according to his lawyer. [para. 41]