A Richmond woman has been sentenced to 18 months in prison for money laundering, marking a significant development in British Columbia's fight against organized crime. Alexandra Joie Chow, 37, received her sentence in Richmond provincial court on Monday. She pleaded guilty in February to one count of laundering the proceeds of crime.

The Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit (CFSEU) announced that this case is the first successful sentencing related to a money laundering investigation in B.C. in a decade. CFSEU Sergeant Sarbjit Sangha stated, "This is the first time in a decade that a money laundering investigation in British Columbia has resulted in a sentencing." She emphasized the importance of the work done by the CFSEU’s gambling investigation team, which aims to combat illegal gaming linked to organized crime.

The investigation into Chow began in August 2019, focusing on suspected loan-sharking and money laundering activities. In November 2021, law enforcement conducted searches in Richmond and Burnaby, seizing various items, including three luxury vehicles, two bank drafts totaling $50,000, and over $10,000 in cash. Chow was charged in 2023.

Prior to her arrest, the B.C. director of civil forfeiture filed a lawsuit against Chow to retain a Porsche Cayman that was seized during the police raids. The lawsuit alleged that Chow operated an unlicensed money services business, charging interest rates of approximately 120 percent per year. It also claimed she converted large amounts of cash from illegal activities into bank drafts for clients and used her vehicle to transport currency.

According to the lawsuit, an undercover officer provided Chow with $776,100 in bulk cash in exchange for bank drafts totaling $740,000. Chow did not respond to the civil forfeiture case, and the Porsche was later forfeited to the B.C. government.

Chow initially faced six charges but ultimately pleaded guilty to one count. She has no prior criminal record. The court has ordered the forfeiture of the cash and bank drafts seized during the investigation, further underscoring the case's significance in the ongoing battle against organized crime in the region.