In September last year, members of the Ming family were sentenced to death after being convicted of multiple charges. These included the killing of 14 Chinese citizens, illegal detention, large-scale fraud, and operating an extensive scam network worth billions.
Following the initial ruling, the group submitted an appeal, but this was rejected in November. The Wenzhou City Intermediate People’s Court confirmed on Thursday that the death sentences had now been carried out.
The money was made by drawing people into online romantic relationships and then convincing them to invest in cryptocurrency schemes. Many of the individuals used to carry out these scams were trafficked and forced to take part.
According to a report by Metro, the head of the family, Ming Xuechang, took his own life in 2023 as authorities closed in on the group and moved to arrest him and other relatives.
Authorities captured members of the family in 2023 before extraditing them back to China to stand trial.
The death sentences were approved by the Supreme People’s Court in Beijing, which stated that the evidence presented against the family was conclusive and sufficient.
The case highlights China’s continued efforts to clamp down on scam operations operating along its borders.
The United Nations has previously estimated that hundreds of thousands of people have been trafficked to carry out online scams across Myanmar and other parts of Southeast Asia, including Cambodia and Laos.
The BBC reports that the Ming family is not the only group to face such punishment. Five members of another family were sentenced to death in November, while trials involving two additional families are still ongoing.
