Michael Pearse and Pearse Liu

Yongchao Kevin Liu: Pearse and Liu, both believed to be in Sydney, have been charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and mail fraud, which carries a maximum term of 20 years in prison in the United States, according to Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Four men were also arrested in the United States and charged with the same offences, two of which face further charges of conspiracy to commit money laundering. Michael Pearse was charged along with another Australian man, Yongchao 'Kevin' Liu, over the alleged scam, which centred on billing unsuspecting mobile phone customers for unsolicited text messages on subjects such as horoscopes, celebrity gossip and trivia facts. A lawyer for Pearse, Hugo Aston, told the ABC his client denied "any impropriety" and would vigorously defend the charges. According to a deposition from a special agent of the United States Internal Revenue Service , the alleged fraud generated tens of millions of dollars, some of which one of Pearse and Liu co-accused, Lin Miao, "spent freely on travel, parties and expensive accommodations", including one hotel that charged $15,000 a night. Do you know more about this story Email "As for extradition, if and when that arises we'll defend that vigorously as well," Mr Aston said. (news.financializer.com). As reported in the news.