Suspected Chinese Cartel Arrested with $250k in Gift Cards for Target and Apple

BROWNWOOD, TX — In a routine traffic stop that quickly escalated into a significant criminal investigation, Brown County Sheriff's Office made a startling discovery on December 14, 2023. Sgt. Chris Angel pulled over a passenger vehicle on Hwy 183 South, which led to the arrest of two California men on money laundering charges.

The driver, identified as 36-year-old Xiuhui Chen of Monterey, California, and the front passenger, 27-year-old Junyu Zhou of Temple, California, were initially stopped for a regular traffic check. Despite a language barrier with Chen, Zhou communicated with Sgt. Angel, explaining that they were returning from a sightseeing tour in Houston and were en route to Amarillo to pick up a friend before heading back to California.

However, the situation took a turn when Sgt. Angel developed reasonable suspicion during the stop. This led to a consent search of the vehicle, revealing over five thousand gift cards from various retailers, including Target, The Apple Store, and prepaid Visa Cards. The total face value of these cards was determined to be over $250,000.

Following this discovery, Chen and Zhou were booked into the Brown County Jail. They face charges of money laundering in the amount of over $30,000 but under $150,000, according to jail records. The magnitude of this case prompted the involvement of the local FBI, who are now assisting with the ongoing investigation.