Chinese Virus Architects Set Up a Gambling Site, Get Caught, Now Heading Back to Prison

Zhang Shun and Li Jun just can’t seem to keep themselves out of trouble on the internet. Back in 2007, the pair were involved in the creation and sale of the ‘Panda Burning Incense’ computer virus, which earned them and their co-conspirators over $12,000 before police caught on. The pair and their friends spent ultimately spent two years in prison, but apparently that wasn’t enough to convince Zhang and Li of the evils of their ways, because according to the government Weibo account in their home county of Lishui, Zhejiang, the pair have been arrested again for computer crimes.

This time, they were involved in an online gambling service — gambling is illegal in China outside a few special spots like Macau — that reportedly raked in millions of RMB (hundreds of thousands of dollars) before police discovered it and made 19 arrests, including Li and Jun.

It seems that originally, the men had simply decided to launch their own web games company after their release from prison, but unfortunately, the company was unsuccessful and gamers showed little interest in their games. It was then that Zhang Shun suggested the company make a strategic pivot and become a gambling platform. Li and the other partners agreed, and soon their company was making money. Of course, it was also breaking the law. Li and Zhang, acutely aware of the potential repercussions, shut the site down and tried to destroy the evidence when police launched a nationwide gambling crackdown in 2012. But it was too late; the police were already onto them and in early 2013, the last of the suspects was rounded up.

Currently the men are awaiting trial again. In a way, you can sympathize with them — doing a gaming startup is hard! — but at the same time, I have some advice for Zhang and Li the next time they get out of prison (which isn’t likely to be anytime soon): maybe stick to offline ventures for now on. And, uh, perhaps brush up on your local laws, guys.

(Tencent Tech via TechWeb)