In a plot twist worthy of a Netflix series, Chinese tycoon-turned-dissident Guo Wengui (aka Miles Kwok) just discovered that scamming MAGA supporters isn’t the best retirement plan. A New York jury found him guilty of running what amounts to the world’s most expensive grift shop.
Guo, who fled China in 2014 claiming to expose Communist Party corruption (while allegedly leaving behind a trail of rape and kidnapping allegations), set up shop in Manhattan with a lifestyle that would make Gatsby blush. We’re talking a 50,000-square-foot mansion, a $37 million yacht (because a $36 million one would be tacky), and a Lamborghini for those quick runs to Whole Foods.
But maintaining this modest lifestyle required cash – lots of it. Enter Guo’s master plan: convince thousands of followers that investing with him was like buying a ticket to democracy’s future. Spoiler alert: it wasn’t.
Prosecutors say Guo, who hung out with Steve Bannon and joined Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club (because of course he did), sweet-talked supporters into pouring over $1 billion into his various ventures. The sales pitch? “I’m rich. I’ll take care of you.” Narrator: He did not take care of them.
Instead, he splurged on life’s necessities: a $1.1 million tortoise-shell jewelry box (for his pet tortoise, presumably), $36,000 mattresses (sleep is important!), and a $40,000 coffee table (Starbucks needs somewhere to sit).
His defense attorney argued it’s not a crime to be wealthy or off-putting – which might be the most backhanded defense in legal history. The jury disagreed, convicting him on nine counts of turning his pro-democracy movement into a personal piggy bank.
The cherry on top? When investigators got too close, Guo allegedly sent followers to protest outside their homes and schools, proving that nothing says “fighting for democracy” quite like intimidating children.
From Central Park penthouse to potential prison cell – turns out the American Dream has a plot twist.