Frequently Asked Questions

You received a notice because you were identified as a potential victim in this matter and may be eligible for compensation. From November 2024 to February 2025, individuals engaged in misleading promotion and coordinated trading of shares of China Liberal Education Holdings, Ltd. (CLEU), a company incorporated in the Cayman Islands that purported to provide educational services in China. The scheme, known as a “pump-and-dump” or “ramp-and-dump,” involved individuals in China posing as U.S.-based investment advisors on social media and messaging platforms and falsely promising significant returns from investments in the company. The misleading promotion and coordinated trading caused the NASDAQ stock price to artificially rise, at which point the individuals sold thousands of shares and made millions of dollars in profits. The stock price dropped dramatically on January 30, 2025, at the expense of other investors, some of whom lost almost the entirety of their investment. 

Seven individuals were charged with wire fraud in United States v. Lim Xiang Jie Cedric, et al., Case No. 1:25-cr-00161 (N.D. Ill.). The United States pursued a parallel civil forfeiture of approximately $214 million in seized proceeds from the CLEU scheme and obtained a default judgment, forfeiting the assets to the United States. See United States v. Funds in the Amount of $19,901,190.42 et al., Case No. 1:25-cv-02965 (N.D. Ill.).

If you invested in CLEU between January 1, 2025 and January 29, 2025 and suffered financial losses, you may be eligible for compensation. Additional information may be found on the documents tab of this website.

Remission is the process by which the Department of Justice compensates victims of crimes using assets forfeited from the perpetrators. The regulations at 28 C.F.R. Part 9 govern the remission process. The Department of Justice’s Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section (“DOJ-MNF”), on behalf of the Attorney General, are the final decisionmakers in remission matters. Remission is a discretionary act by the Attorney General; as such, final decisions are not reviewable in court. 

This compensation matter is not related to class action litigation against Meta. If you are involved in that case, you may also file a remission petition in this case.

This compensation matter is separate from any CLEU class action litigation. If you are a class member or plaintiff in those cases, you may also file a remission petition with DOJ. When you file your petition, you must report any recoveries you have already received, and if you later recover more than your total loss, you must reimburse the DOJ Assets Forfeiture Fund. See 28 C.F.R. 9.8(g).

Victims who incurred pecuniary losses directly resulting from the CLEU scheme may file petitions for remission to receive compensation. If you invested in CLEU between January 1, 2025 and January 29, 2025, and experienced a net loss of your investment when accounting for any completed withdrawals, you may be a potential victim eligible to receive compensation in this matter. However, submission of a Petition Form does not guarantee that you will receive payment.

To be considered, you must complete and sign a petition for remission. You may file your petition either on this website or by downloading a paper copy and mailing or emailing it to us using the contact information below:
 

Email: [email protected]
 

Mailing address: 

DOJ CLEU Remission

c/o Kroll Settlement Administration LLC

P.O. Box 225391 

New York, NY 10150-5391

Taxpayer Identification Numbers (TINs), such as Social Security Numbers (SSNs), Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers (ITINs), and Federal Employer Identification Number (FEINs), are collected to maintain compliance with the Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996 (DCIA), 31 U.S.C. § 3716. The DCIA requires the Department of the Treasury and other disbursing officials to offset Federal payments to collect delinquent non-tax debts owed to the United States, or delinquent debts owed to states, including past-due child support enforced by states. If an offset is made during an electronic funds transfer, the Petitioner will receive a notification from the Department of the Treasury at the last address provided by the debtor to the creditor. If you believe that your payment may be subject to an offset, you may contact the Treasury Department at 1-800-304-3107. More information may be found here at the Treasury Offset Program (TOP) website.  If you have a federal TIN, failure to provide the number will result in denial of your petition.

No, you do not have to be a U.S. citizen or reside in the United States to file a petition. Victims from around the world who meet the eligibility criteria may apply for remission. However, if you have a federal ITIN, SSN, or FEIN you must provide it on the form.

No, you do not need an attorney to file a petition. The process is designed to be accessible to all victims.

If you are represented by an attorney, your attorney may file the petition on your behalf, but they must include a signed and sworn statement by you stating that a signed and sworn statement from you stating that: (i) the attorney has the authority to represent you in this proceeding; (ii) you have fully reviewed the petition; and (iii) the petition is truthful and accurate in every respect. Responses and notification of rulings shall not be sent to an attorney claiming to represent a petitioner unless a written notice of representation is filed. See 28 C.F.R. § 9.9(g).
 

No, there is no fee for filing a petition for remission. Neither the Department of Justice nor the Remission Administrator charge fees for you to file a petition or to participate in the remission process.

Please beware of other websites, entities, or communications you may receive claiming to administer the remission process, remission payments, or any other kind of refund from DOJ. Victims are never required to pay or hire an attorney to take part in any DOJ remission process, including the process in this case.

Yes. If the person who invested in CLEU is deceased, please submit the petition in the name of the deceased and include verification of the death and documents showing that you represent the estate

The loss amount for eligible petitioners will be determined based on the amount of CLEU purchased and retained, minus any amount recovered from commissions, insurance claims, or other means. At the time of distribution, the available funds will be allocated on a pro rata (proportional) basis to each petitioner based on the documented loss that they incurred. 

No distribution date is available; however, the Department of Justice is committed to working as expeditiously as possible to compensate victims. Please check this website periodically for updates. 

Victims who disagree with the remission decision will have an opportunity to request reconsideration by DOJ-MNF. You may file a request for reconsideration of the decision in the manner described in your decision letter. Requests for reconsideration are governed by 28 C.F.R. § 9.1(b)(2). Only one request for reconsideration is permitted.

Participation in the remission process is voluntary. If you choose not to file a petition, you will not receive compensation.

Transactions involving the purchase or trade of shares of China Liberal Education Holdings, Ltd. (CLEU) qualify for remission. To be eligible for remission, a petitioner must demonstrate that they invested in CLEU before January 30, 2025, and that they experienced a net loss of their investment when accounting for any completed withdrawals

Acceptable documentation includes emails from China Liberal Education Holdings, Ltd. (CLEU), order confirmations, copies or screenshots of online account balances, bank statements, wire receipts, and other relevant information. Only complete, unaltered copies of cancelled checks, wire transfers records, bank statements, or similar official transaction records will be accepted as adequate proof of loss. If submitting bank statements, they must show the account holder’s name, date, transaction descriptions, amount, and bank information. DO NOT submit original documents.

You may upload your documentation online during the submission process at www.CLEUremissionfund.com. You may also email it to [email protected], or mail to:
 

DOJ CLEU Remission

c/o Kroll Settlement Administration LLC

P.O. Box 225391 

New York, NY 10150-5391

Please be sure to reference the Unique ID in your Notice in all communication sent via email or physical mail. 

You should consult with a tax professional for guidance on reporting the payment to the IRS.

You can update your contact information by contacting the Remission Administrator by email at [email protected].

More information, including press releases and relevant court documents are available under the Documents tab of this website. If you have any questions which are not addressed within the Notice you received or this FAQ page, you may contact us by emailing [email protected], calling 1-833-754-8247, or writing to:
 

DOJ CLEU Remission
c/o Kroll Settlement Administration
PO Box 225391
New York, NY 10150-5391

Kroll Settlement Administration (“Kroll”), is a neutral third-party that has been engaged as the Remission Administrator by USDOJ-MNF to assist in notifying potential petitioners, reviewing the petitions, conduct follow‑up communications with petitioners, making decision recommendations, and mailing remission checks to eligible petitioners.