Chinese director pleads guilty to currency violations in US

Famous Chinese television director and actor Ying Da pleaded guilty to violating US requirements on financial transactions when he split a large cash deposit into many smaller ones at banks in Connecticut to avoid the reporting requirements.

Ying, 56, pleaded guilty on Feb 16 in Bridgeport, Connecticut. US District Judge Underhill scheduled sentencing for May 11. Ying faces a maximum prison term of 10 years and a fine of up to $500,000. He was released pending sentencing.

Ying, whose wife and children live in the US, made 50 cash deposits in amounts less than $10,000.01 into his and his wife's six accounts at four Connecticut banks between April 2011 and March 2012, according to the local newspaper,the Connecticut Post.

The cash deposits, which totaled $464,400, were frequently made on the same day at different banks.

Ying knew that banks were required to issue a report for a currency transaction of more than $10,000, and his structuring activity was intended to evade the reporting requirements, according to a press release issued on Feb 16 by Deirdre M. Daly, US attorney for the District of Connecticut. The press release did not mention the source of the money.

Ying is known in China as a director and actor and for his TV series, I Love My Family (1993), The Suite Life of Fei & Fan (2015) and Farewell My Concubine, and his previous marriage to Chinese actress Song Dandan. Daly said in that even if the deposited funds are derived from a legitimate means, financial transactions conducted in this manner still violate federal criminal law.

As part of the resolution of the case, Ying agreed to forfeit $175,938 of the money he deposited. He also agreed to pay the Internal Revenue Service $113,195 in unpaid federal taxes, plus penalties and interest for 2009, 2010 and 2011.

People close to the matter who asked not to be identified by name said he is heading back to China on Feb 28.

Ying's attorney, Nathan Silverstein, did not respond to a China Daily request forcomment.

hezijiang@chinadailyusa.com