Ryan Knudson

Zhang is awaiting trial as a result of the Fortune Runner operation.

He pleaded not guilty to money laundering and drug trafficking charges.

His lawyer didn't respond to requests for comment.

This account of Zhang's alleged scheme is based on Dylan's reporting, court documents, and conversations with people familiar with the Fortune Runner investigation.

At a high level, Chinese money laundering operations like Zhang's work like this.

When Chinese money laundering groups take all this dirty drug money from the cartels, they sell it to Chinese nationals who are looking to convert their Chinese yuan into U.S.

cash.

This is that money broker business we mentioned a minute ago.

After that happens, laundering groups like Zhang's are left with a bunch of Chinese yuan, which they use to buy stuff in China and sell in Mexico.

What kinds of goods do you see them buy in this trade-based system?

To really make this system work, though, you can't be shipping around hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash.

You need to get that money into a bank.

Money launderers have always tried to sneak money into the banking system.

But what makes groups like Zhang's different is how reckless they are.

Usually, a money launderer would be careful not to exceed the bank's reporting limit of $10,000.

But like you heard about at the start of this episode, not these guys.

Banks are required to report suspicious activity.

These reports are one of many tools the U.S.

government has to combat money laundering.

But Dylan says that banks can take a long time to file those reports.