A Chinese billionaire, identified as Hui Qin, also known by multiple aliases including 'Qin Hui' and 'Karl', has pleaded guilty to participating in a straw donor scheme aimed at influencing a New York City electoral race. Qin, who is listed on Forbes Magazine's List of Billionaires and operates the Hong Kong-based entertainment entity SMI Culture, attempted to channel $20,000 into a campaign for citywide office through masked contributions. The scheme involved making straw donations to an unnamed NYC official, later revealed to be Mayor Eric Adams. Qin, a Chinese national holding a U.S. green card, made a direct donation of $2,000 to Adams' campaign in March 2021, leveraging the city's campaign finance rules that allow green card holders to contribute. Additionally, supporters of Guo Wengui, another Chinese billionaire indicted in connection to Qin, have been ordered to pay over $327,000 in legal fees following a failed lawsuit which accused a U.S. bankruptcy trustee of acting on behalf of the Chinese government, represented by Paul Hastings lawyer @DaveThomas5150.