Hu Xiaowei, identified in the report as a key figure behind the Prince Group case, left Japan on July 29 and was deported to the United States, according to BlockBeats, citing Red Star News.
The report said personnel from the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation, or FBI, have already been in contact with Hu, and that follow-up investigative work will be carried out in the United States.
While in Japan, Hu was said to have used a Cypriot passport and operated under the name “Hu Shi,” a name also cited in earlier online claims describing him as Chen Zhi’s “boss behind the scenes.”
Hu was arrested by Japanese police in June on suspicion of violating Japan’s Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act. On July 24, Japanese prosecutors filed a summary prosecution against him and imposed a fine equivalent to about RMB 100,000, the report said.
Red Star News described Hu as playing a major role in Chen Zhi’s criminal group, saying he led Chen Zhi into the cyber gray-market business and was regarded as Chen’s “big brother.” The report added that Hu Xiaowei has also been known as Hu Yanming, Hu Shi, and Chen Xiaoer.
According to information disclosed by what the report described as authoritative institutions, Chen Xiaoer, who has been sanctioned by the United States, Hu Yanming, who has been subject to a restraint order issued by Hong Kong’s Department of Justice, and Hu Xiaowei, identified as the mastermind in the “Knight Attack Group” illegal computer intrusion case uncovered by Chongqing cyber police in 2010, are the same person.
The report also cited statements from a core member of the “Knight Attack Group,” saying Hu was one of only two leaders of the group, while Chen Zhi was one of its members and was not among the 19 core suspects arrested at the time.