Chinese dissident Miles Guo sentenced to 30 years

MANHATTAN (CN) — Guo Wengui, a self-exiled, MAGA-linked media mogul from China, was sentenced to 30 years in prison Monday after he was convicted of ripping off his supporters to the tune of $1 billion while espousing anti-communist views.

Guo, also known as Ho Wan Kwok and Miles Guo, stole at least $550 million from thousands of victims who invested in his companies, according to trial evidence — and did not appear to regret his actions, U.S. District Judge Analisa Torres said.

“Mr. Guo to this day denies responsibility and exhibits no remorse for the harm that he has caused to so many people,” the Barack Obama appointee said before handing down the sentence.

In 2024, Guo was convicted on nine fraud and conspiracy counts and acquitted of wire and securities fraud charges related to GTV, a Chinese media platform and anti-censorship venture he founded with former Trump adviser Steve Bannon. Bannon was arrested aboard Guo’s yacht in 2020 on fraud charges.

Shortly after Guo’s March 2023 arrest, his penthouse at the Sherry-Netherland Hotel on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan caught fire while investigators were still inside.

At Guo’s seven-week trial in 2024, prosecutors said he built an online following through his outspoken opposition to the Chinese Communist Party, then cheated supporters out of their savings through sham opportunities tied to his businesses.

One of those who invested, Wei Chen, spoke at Monday’s hearing and said her family lost their entire savings, and was pushed deep into debt, because they believed investing with Guo would pay off.

“This fraud destroyed my life and my family," she said. “I took our peace of mind, it took our hope, it took life from us — the best years of our lives.”

Defense attorney Melinda Sarafa spoke about Guo’s difficult upbringing, being raised during China’s cultural revolution, where his parents were deemed enemies of the state. She said he continued to face government persecution and sought refuge in the U.S. where the luxuries he flouted served to build a brand and demonstrate to the people of China what they could achieve.

Monday’s proceeding was delayed for five hours after Guo had health issues beginning at 5 a.m., he told the court, including vomiting blood. Guo, who asked for a sentencing adjournment on Friday, said he insisted he be brought to court on Monday even when a doctor suggested returning to his cell.

Trial testimony

“The creation of GTV was a direct response to CCP efforts to silence Mr. Guo,” Sarafa said.

Guo made false promises on livestreams, prosecutors said at trial, guaranteeing followers big returns if they put money into his projects and assuring them he’d be personally responsible for any losses.

“If anyone loses money, please come to me. I will be responsible,” Guo said in one video broadcast played to the court.

Numerous investors testified otherwise. One witness, Jenny Li, said she took out a second mortgage on her home to invest $100,000 in Guo’s businesses, including GTV, and was left with nothing but a $20,000 refund from the Securities and Exchange Commission. “Miles Guo stole my money,” she testified.

“He’s just a liar,” said another investor witness, Minran Ru. “He’s very good at acting and cheating.”

Guo’s lawyers said their client’s wealth flaunting was intended to “spit in the eye of the CCP.”

“It is not a crime to be wealthy,” Guo’s attorney Sidhardha Kamaraju said during summations.

Guo left China in 2014 during an anti-corruption crackdown led by President Xi Jinping that ensnared people close to Guo, including a top intelligence official. Chinese authorities seek Guo’s return on claims of rape, kidnapping, bribery and other offenses.

Follow @NinaPullano Follow @ninapullano.bsky.social