Norcross Man Zhen Ni Convicted Under Georgia RICO Act in $5M Stolen Electronics Scheme

LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. — A Norcross man has been convicted under Georgia’s Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act after prosecutors say he led a multimillion-dollar operation that shipped stolen and blacklisted electronics overseas.

According to the Gwinnett County District Attorney’s Office, a November 2024 investigation into porch piracy across Gwinnett County led police to a suspect who identified 41-year-old Zhen Ni as the head of a fencing organization.

Investigators conducted months of surveillance and determined that Ni and his associates were exporting stolen electronic devices to destinations including Hong Kong and Dubai. Authorities said the items were sent overseas because U.S. mobile carriers had blacklisted the devices, making them unusable domestically.

Officials also uncovered what they described as a sophisticated money-laundering operation designed to conceal the source of the group’s profits.

In May 2025, law enforcement executed search warrants at six homes across three metro Atlanta counties. Authorities said they seized more than $5 million in stolen electronics and $1.2 million in cash. Ni was arrested at his home during the searches.

Police said those involved in the operation appeared to be living lavishly, with luxury homes, high-end vehicles and expensive goods allegedly tied to the scheme.

On Feb. 13, a jury found Ni guilty of violating Georgia’s RICO Act and theft by receiving stolen property. He was sentenced to seven years in prison, followed by three years of probation, and ordered to pay a $100,000 fine.

“Our office is proud to have recovered this large volume of stolen items,” District Attorney Patsy Austin-Gatson said in a statement. “This RICO conviction sends a clear message that organized crime will not be tolerated in Gwinnett County.”