British Columbia journalist Benson Gao says he feels a sense of “tremendous relief” following the sentencing of Chinese businessman and political activist Guo Wengui, who was handed a 30-year prison sentence in the United States for orchestrating a massive fraud scheme that impacted thousands of investors worldwide.
Guo, a controversial Chinese tycoon who fled China more than a decade ago and later became a prominent critic of the Chinese Communist Party while living in the United States, was sentenced in a Manhattan federal court after being convicted of defrauding supporters out of hundreds of millions of dollars.
During sentencing, Judge Analisa Torres said Guo exploited individuals who believed in his pro-democracy message, using their financial support to fund a lavish lifestyle. The judge also criticized Guo for encouraging supporters to intimidate and harass critics who challenged him.
Among those critics was Benson Gao, also known as Gao Bingchen, a British Columbia-based journalist who spent years investigating and speaking out against Guo. Gao became the target of a prolonged campaign by Guo’s followers, who protested outside his Surrey, B.C., residence for 77 consecutive days in 2020.
According to Gao, the demonstrations created a climate of fear and disruption for his family. He said the protests were livestreamed around the clock and subjected him and his wife to constant insults, accusations, and emotional distress.
The situation escalated when two Guo supporters assaulted Gao’s friend, Louis Huang. The attackers later pleaded guilty, and Huang was awarded more than $156,000 in damages.
Reflecting on the sentence, Gao said he experienced mixed emotions. While relieved to see Guo held accountable, he believes the punishment does not fully reflect the suffering endured by victims and critics who faced years of harassment and intimidation.
Gao described Guo as the leader of what he called a “financial cult,” claiming the businessman used his influence and resources to silence opponents and spread false allegations. Gao himself was publicly accused by Guo of being a Chinese government spy, a claim he strongly denies.
Despite the personal toll, Gao said he does not regret exposing what he believed were serious wrongdoing and fraudulent activities. However, he indicated that he will no longer focus his reporting on Guo and plans to shift his attention toward other social issues through his journalism and online platforms.
During the sentencing hearing, Judge Torres cited evidence showing that more than 1,000 victims around the world lost substantial sums of money through Guo’s schemes. The court heard emotional testimonies from investors who lost life savings, suffered severe anxiety, and experienced strained relationships with family members as a result of their financial losses.
The judge said Guo continued to deny responsibility for the fraud despite overwhelming evidence presented during the trial. In addition to the prison term, the court ordered him to forfeit approximately $889 million in restitution.
One victim, Wei Chen, told the court that Guo’s actions devastated her family and permanently altered their lives.
Even after the sentence was delivered, supporters inside the courtroom applauded and shouted messages of support as Guo was escorted out, highlighting the continued loyalty he maintains among some followers despite his conviction.