Police say Qian ran a massive pyramid scheme from 2014 to 2017, convincing more than 128,000 people — many investing their life savings and pensions — to pour money into her fake business. She allegedly converted the stolen funds into Bitcoin.
After drawing the attention of Chinese authorities, Qian fled to the U.K. under a false identity. In London, she rented a luxury home for £17,000 ($23,000) a month and tried, unsuccessfully, to purchase multimillion-pound properties in an effort to cash out her crypto fortune.
Investigators later uncovered handwritten notes where Qian described her dream of becoming the “monarch of Liberland,” a self-proclaimed micro-nation between Croatia and Serbia — along with her ambitions of “meeting a duke and royalty.”
A disturbing incident on a San Francisco Muni train has raised new concerns about operator fatigue. Passengers were rattled when the light-rail car began jolting unexpectedly as the driver appeared to lose focus inside the Sunset Tunnel.
According to surveillance footage, the operator seemed drowsy moments before the train started swaying sharply, her head dropping several times as she fought to stay awake. The transit agency is now investigating the incident and reviewing its safety procedures to prevent a repeat.