The Zhangs charge interest rates of up to 39.6 per cent, with some private lenders demanding up to 120 per cent. Court records show that one of the Zhangs' associates is among those allegedly charging that extortionate level of interest, which is double the maximum legal rate.
OK, this I don't get. Why would you charge someone to launder your money? Typically you pay them.
EDIT: Never mind. It's in the article. This seems less like a money-laundering scheme and more like loan sharking. Getting clean money in the end is just icing on the cake.