7 Chinese nationals face federal charges in multi-million-dollar marijuana grow operation

OG article By Mike Pescaro

July 10, 2025

Federal prosecutors in Massachusetts announced on Tuesday that seven Chinese nationals are facing charges related to an alleged cannabis grow operation spanning multiple states, yielding millions of dollars in profits.

The office of U.S. Attorney Leah Foley, in collaboration with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Massachusetts State Police, confirmed the arrests of six individuals.

Investigators allege that Chinese nationals were smuggled into the country to work in a network of grow houses concealed within single-family homes in Massachusetts and Maine. Their passports were reportedly withheld "until they repaid their smuggling debts."

The group allegedly operated these grow houses since approximately January 2020, with locations in Braintree, Melrose, and Greenfield, "among other locations in Massachusetts, Maine, and elsewhere," according to Foley’s office.

Defendants are accused of conspiring to sell kilograms of cannabis in bulk across the Northeast, including cash transactions with operators in New York.

Those arrested on Tuesday morning include:

• Jianxiong Chen, 39, of Braintree

• Yuxiong Wu, 36, of Weymouth

• Dinghui Li, 38, of Braintree

• Dechao Ma, 35, of Braintree

• Peng Lian Zhu, 35, of Melrose

• Hongbin Wu, 35, of Quincy

Yanrong Zhu, 47, of Greenfield, who also resides in Brooklyn, New York, remains at large.

All seven individuals have been indicted on one count of conspiracy to manufacture, distribute, and possess with intent to distribute cannabis.

Additionally:

• Chen, Yuxiong Wu, Li, Ma, and Peng Lian Zhu each face one count of money laundering conspiracy.

• Chen faces 11 counts of money laundering and one count of bringing aliens into the United States.

• Yuxiong Wu is charged with four counts of money laundering.

• Li and Ma each face two counts of money laundering.

"This case pulls back the curtain on a sprawling criminal enterprise that exploited our immigration system and our communities for personal gain," Foley said in a statement.

"These defendants allegedly turned quiet homes across the Northeast into hubs for a criminal enterprise – building a multi-million-dollar black-market operation off the backs of an illegal workforce and using our neighborhoods as cover. That ends today."

Chen allegedly controlled multiple grow houses in Maine and a Braintree home that served as the group’s operational base. Others in the group reportedly transported cannabis and cash to the Braintree home for redistribution, concealing it in their vehicles’ engine compartments.

In October 2024, a search of the Braintree home uncovered over $270,000 in cash inside the house and in a Porsche parked in the driveway. Several Chinese passports and other identifying documents were allegedly found in a safe.

Chen is accused of employing individuals at the grow houses while retaining their passports until they repaid smuggling debts, according to Foley’s office.

Searches conducted in October 2024 at Ma’s home in Braintree and Peng Lian Zhu’s home in Melrose resulted in the seizure of over 109 kilograms of cannabis, nearly $200,000 in cash, and luxury items, including a gold Rolex watch with a price tag of $65,000.

In June 2023, Hongbin Wu and Yanrong Zhu were stopped by law enforcement after allegedly leaving a grow house in Greenfield. Authorities seized $36,900 in cash.

The group allegedly generated millions of dollars in profits from cannabis sales, which were used to purchase luxury homes, vehicles, jewelry, and other items. The funds also supported the expansion of the enterprise, authorities said.

The cannabis manufacturing and distribution conspiracy charge carries a potential sentence of up to five years in prison, at least two years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. The money laundering conspiracy charge provides for up to 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $500,000 or twice the amount involved in the case. Each count of money laundering carries up to 10 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $500,000 or twice the amount involved. For the charge of bringing aliens into the United States, Chen faces three to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.

It remains unclear whether the defendants have attorneys to respond to the charges against them.

Federal prosecutors noted that the FBI, Massachusetts State Police, Drug Enforcement Agency, New York State Police, Maine State Police, and local authorities in Braintree, New York City, and Westchester County provided assistance in the investigation.