May 6, 11:19 PM EDT

Chinese bankers, wives sentenced in bank scam

LAS VEGAS (AP) -- Two former Bank of China managers and their wives have been sentenced for their role in an elaborate plan to embezzle $482 million and launder the money in other countries.

A federal judge in Las Vegas on Wednesday sentenced Xu Chaofan (SHOO' chow-fan) to 25 years in prison and Xu Guojun (SHOO' goh-joon) to 22 years. Their wives, Kuang Wan Fang (KU'-wong wahnd fang) and Yu Ying Yi (YOU' ying-ee), were sentenced to eight years in prison.

The Department of Justice says they were ordered to pay $482 million in restitution.

They were found guilty of a racketeering conspiracy that began in 1991 and continued until October 2004. Prosecutors say the men laundered stolen money through Hong Kong, Canada and the U.S., including $3 million at Las Vegas casinos.

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