The two were also charged by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in a case that included four other people.

The joint enforcement actions by the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Justice Department involved a high school biology teacher, a gambling debt, a group of friends, WhatsApp messages and two Silicon Valley tech companies.

Both people charged – Julie Amador, 46, of San Jose, and Shannon Marie Cardenas, 44, of Dublin – spent the money they took on personal expenses.

Jing Chiang Huang was originally charged with sex trafficking, tax fraud and money laundering in Santa Clara County Superior Court.

The DA got involved in the case after getting a report of “suspicious activity” at a new residential construction project in San Jose. 

Investigators are still trying to determine the extent of the fraud and encouraging victims to come forward.