A Southern California woman was sentenced to prison for defrauding elderly victims out of over $11.6 million through a money laundering scheme.
Cynthia Song, 43, of Arcadia, also known as “Iris Song” and “Xin Wang,” was sentenced to 121 months (10 years and one month) in prison for orchestrating the scheme, the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced Tuesday.
Prosecutors said the large-scale international effort defrauded hundreds of victims, many of whom were elderly, out of over $11.6 million.
From December 2022 to October 2024, the victims were targeted by fraudsters posing as government officials, law enforcement or computer support representatives.
They would convince the victims into sending large payments – sometimes their entire life savings – to bank accounts controlled by Song and her accomplices.
Song first joined the scheme as an associate before later becoming a manager of money launderers, court documents said. She recruited at least 15 people into the operation. They opened dozens of business bank accounts to receive and transfer the fraudulent funds.
Once the victims’ money was received, Song told her associates to withdraw or transfer the money, while she took a 5% to 10% cut before sending the remaining funds to associates overseas, primarily in China and Hong Kong.
Throughout the operation, she instructed the launderers on how to deceive banks that questioned any suspicious transfers by providing them with cover stories for the transfers, victims’ driver’s licenses and other information to prevent the banks from freezing the accounts or funds.
If the bank accounts were frozen for fraud, Song and her associates would switch to different bank accounts and co-conspirators.
In total, Song and her associates laundered at least $11,692,931 in fraud proceeds from approximately 180 victims across the United States. Within that amount, approximately $2,736,240 was frozen or recovered by financial institutions.
In her plea agreement, Song admitted that she knew the funds were criminal proceeds and told anyone she recruited that the money they handled was not “clean.”
Song has been in federal custody since October 2024. On June 10, 2025, she pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. On Nov. 11, 2025, she was sentenced to 121 months in prison and was ordered to pay $10,069,518 in restitution.
“The harm these crimes caused the victims cannot be understated,” prosecutors argued in a sentencing memorandum. “Some lost their entire life savings, others continue to experience shame, regret, and depression. Many dreamed to enjoy their golden years of retirement, but are now confronted with the harsh realities of lost savings and shattered dreams. Many have had to materially change their standard of living and most will never financially recover from these life-changing financial losses, given their age.”
The case was investigated by IRS Criminal Investigation and Homeland Security Investigations and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Roach.
Anyone aged 60 or older who may have been a victim of financial fraud can seek help by calling the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311).
More information about the Department of Justice’s Elder Fraud Initiative is available at justice.gov/elderjustice.
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