Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit of British Columbia photo
In a landmark case for provincial law enforcement, a Richmond woman has pleaded guilty to a standalone charge of money laundering, marking the first conviction of its kind in over a decade and signalling a new era of accountability for financial crime in British Columbia.
Alexandra Joie Chow, 35, entered her guilty plea on February 24, 2025, to one count of laundering the proceeds of crime, contrary to section 462.31(1)(a) of the Criminal Code. The charge stems from a complex, multi-year investigation by the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit of British Columbia (CFSEU-BC).
Final submissions in the sentencing hearing were completed this past August 21. A sentencing decision is expected this November.
“This case sends a strong message that those who exploit our financial systems for criminal purposes will be identified, investigated and held accountable,” said Assistant Commissioner Manny Mann, Chief Officer of CFSEU-BC. “This marks the first time in over a decade that an individual has pleaded guilty and will be sentenced for a stand-alone money laundering offence.”
The investigation, dubbed Project Maypole, began in August 2019. The CFSEU-BC’s Joint Illegal Gaming Investigation Team (JIGIT) was probing suspected loan-sharking and the unlicensed operation of a money services business, activities contrary to the Proceeds of Crime Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Act.
The investigation culminated on November 5, 2021, when JIGIT officers executed multiple search warrants at properties in Richmond and Burnaby, as well as on vehicles associated with the suspects. Two individuals were arrested at that time.
Following a comprehensive review of evidence, the BC Prosecution Service formally approved charges against Ms. Chow on November 1, 2023.
This successful prosecution is viewed as a direct result of CFSEU-BC’s intensified efforts to dismantle the financial networks that facilitate organized crime. It also represents a significant step in the broader enforcement of recommendations made by the Cullen Commission into money laundering in B.C.
