『U.S.,美国』 10 fraud, wire fraud, scams, money laundering, cryptocurrency, charge, sentencing, WANTED, Robbery 2024.6.10-8.4

Moreno Valley Station
Posted on: August 4, 2024

Recovery of Stolen Cargo

Reporting Deputy: Sergeant Miguel Ramos
File # JV242150161
Details:
In February 2024, the Moreno Valley Sheriff’s Station Special Enforcement Team (SET) launched an investigation into an organized retail crime and trailer cargo theft ring. On August 2, 2024, around 12:20 p.m., Moreno Valley Sheriff’s Station SET deputies served a search warrant on a warehouse located in the 3400 block of De Forest Circle in Jurupa Valley. Over 300 pallets of stolen merchandise, ranging from small appliances to high-end gaming computers, were seized during the service of the search warrant. Deputies detained 33-year-old Yong Li during the search warrant. Li was later arrested for receiving stolen property and an aggravated white-collar crime enhancement. This is an ongoing investigation, and no additional information is available at this time.

Anyone with additional information is encouraged to contact Deputy Sultan at the Moreno Valley Sheriff’s Station at (951) 486-6700. As a reminder, “Community Policing” involves partnerships between law enforcement and community members. Business owners and residents are encouraged to report criminal activity directly to law enforcement by calling Sheriff’s Dispatch at (951) 776–1099 or 911 if the matter is an emergency.

For media inquiries regarding this incident please contact the Media Information Bureau.

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Deputies find hundreds of pallets of suspected stolen merchandise in warehouse in Jurupa Valley

Hundreds of pallets carrying merchandise alleged to have been stolen were recovered Friday after authorities served a search warrant on a warehouse in Jurupa Valley.

The search warrant was served around 12:20 p.m. on Aug. 2, at the warehouse in the 3400 block of De Forest Circle, according to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department.

During the search, authorities said they located over 300 pallets of stolen merchandise, including high-end gaming computers. One person was arrested on suspicion of receiving stolen property, authorities said. That individual was identified by authorities as 33-year-old Yong Li.

The search warrant and arrest followed an investigation that was launched back in February by a special enforcement team within the Moreno Valley Sheriff’s Station. Authorities said their investigation is still ongoing.

Anyone with more information about this case was asked to call Deputy Sultan at the Moreno Valley Sheriff’s Station at (951) 486-6700.

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华男收脏被捕！南加仓库发现数百托盘，疑似被盗商品！

河滨县警长办公室官员报告称，2024年2月，莫雷诺谷警长分局的特别执法团队（SET）对一个有组织的零售犯罪和拖车货物盗窃团伙展开了调查，并在8月2日，在Jurupa Valley的一个仓库执行搜查中发现了数百个载有疑似被盗商品的托盘，其中包括高端游戏电脑。

根据河滨县警长办公室的消息，该搜查令是在8月2日下午12点20分左右，在位于德弗雷斯特圈3400号街区的仓库被执行。

在搜查过程中，当局表示他们发现了300多个托盘的被盗商品，包括高端游戏电脑。警方逮捕了一名涉嫌接收被盗财产的人员，该人员被确认是33岁的华人男子李勇（Yong Li）。

这次搜查令和逮捕是基于莫雷诺谷警长分局的特别执法团队自今年2月启动的一项调查。警方表示，调查仍在进行中。

警方表示，任何有更多关于此案信息的人，请联系莫雷诺谷警长分局的苏丹副警长。

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南加州警方成功捣毁亚裔男子销赃窝点

上周五，河滨县警方打击盗销行动中，在Jurupa Valley成功捣毁一处大型销赃窝点，数百个满载疑似被盗商品的托盘曝光于光天化日之下，其中不乏高端游戏电脑等昂贵商品，涉案金额惊人。

8月2日正午时分，随着搜查令的正式执行，警方迅速包围了位于De Forest Circle 3400号街区的一处隐秘仓库。经过周密部署与突击检查，警方惊人地发现，仓库内堆满了共计300多个托盘，每个托盘上都满载着从小型家电到高端游戏电脑等各类被盗商品，场面之壮大。

而在此次行动中，一名关键人物——33岁的亚裔李永（Yong Li）因涉嫌收受并销售赃物被警方当场逮捕。根据指控，李永不仅面临严重的盗窃罪指控，还可能因白领犯罪加重处罚，其背后可能隐藏着一个庞大的零售犯罪与拖车货物盗窃网络。

开头我们也提到，此次突袭行动并非偶然，早在今年2月起，河滨县警察局Moreno Valley分局特别执法小组就以数月来深入调查、精心布局的结果，针对当地的有组织零售犯罪团伙展开了全面追踪，最终锁定了这一非法销赃仓库，并成功实施了精准打击。

2 Chinese nationals found with $250,000 in gold bars during I-20 traffic stop charged with money laundering
A search of the vehicle led to the detective finding a bag behind the driver’s seat with multiple pieces of gold bars inside.

CANTON, Texas — Two men from China are accused of money laundering after police say they were found with $250,000 worth in gold bars during a traffic stop Thursday on Interstate 20 in Van Zandt County.

Weijian Chen, 25, and Wenqiang Lin, 46, were arrested for money laundering between $150,000 and $300,000, according to court records. During a news conference Friday, Van Zandt County District Attorney Tonda Curry detailed their arrests and gave updates on the investigation.

According to an arrest document, a Wills Point detective pulled over the vehicle that Chen and Lin were riding in after he noticed the car was following another vehicle too closely. The detective asked Chen, who was the driver, to speak with him at the patrol vehicle using a translation app. The officer said he believed there was criminal activity “afoot.”

Chen told the detective they flew from Los Angeles, California to Atlanta, Georgia to “play,” but they were only in Atlanta for a day. When asked about three bags in the vehicle, Chen denied the detective’s request to search them. Lin, who had rented the car, later gave permission while seeming unsure, and he said they had already been stopped by another officer, the document read.

The detective’s K-9 conducted a sniff search of the vehicle. The detective found a boarding pass for a flight from Los Angeles on July 30 that landed in Atlanta on July 31. The search then led to the detective finding a bag behind the driver’s seat with multiple pieces of gold bars inside. The value of that gold totals about $250,000, according to the affidavit.

The affidavit said both Lin and Chen claimed they did not know who the bag or the gold belonged to. Both men were then placed under arrest.

After contacting an agent with Homeland Security, the Wills Point detective learned Lin entered the United States illegally and was encountered by U.S. Border Patrol on Sept. 15, 2023, in California. He was given a notice to appear in court and released without having to post bail. Chen came into the United States on Dec. 17, 2023, in California and also given a notice to appear in court and released without having to post bail as well, the document read.

In an interview with police at the Van Zandt County Jail, Chen said he received the gold bars by someone asking him to take the gold to Dallas. He didn’t give any more information. Lin said he left China, went to Hong Kong, then flew to Turkey and flew to Mexico from there. Lin said he then traveled through Mexico with others from China to attempt entry into the U.S., the affidavit stated.

The Wills Point officer learned that Lin and Chen were stopped in Monroe County, Georgia, on July 31 and a law enforcement officer searched their vehicle with a narcotics detection dog at the time. That officer tried tracking where their rental vehicle had been previously. The officer found that they had used a different vehicle, which left the Atlanta airport, and traveled north to Marietta, Georgia, which is an area known for cartel activity.

Curry said she believes they were working with the cartel after investigating their travel history this week.

According to the document, they went south to Jacksonville, Florida and they stayed in Jacksonville for about two hours before going west on Interstate 10 and then north on Interstate 49 to I-20, where they were later pulled over in the Wills Point area.

The Wills Point detective wrote in the document that people who are involved in criminal activity like selling illegal narcotics usually carry large amounts of money. Curry said to convict them in court of money laundering, her office would have to prove that they engaged in unlawful activity.

Deana Brown, founder of Freedom Seekers International, said the main reason people leave China is because of communism. Freedom Seekers International helps rescue people from other countries who are persecuted for their faith and helps resettle them.

She said when migrants come to the U.S., they don’t have working permits, so some resort to other ways of making money. However, Brown doesn’t believe the two men are refugees since they had money to buy a plane ticket and rent cars.

“I’m sure there are good people who are leaving horrible circumstances, but among those good are people who help organizations that prey on U.S. citizens,” Curry said, adding she doesn’t know if the two men came into the U.S. as refugees.

“They were arrested for money laundering. No formal charges have been filed yet,” Curry said.

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携价值25万美金金条 两中国非法移民在美被捕

在德州范赞特县（Van Zandt）20号州际公路（I-20）的一场交通执法中，美国警方发现两名非法入境的中国男子，携带着价值约25万美元的金条，遂将两人逮捕。

目前，现年25岁的陈伟建（Weijian Chen，音译）和46岁的林文强（Wenqiang Lin，音译）都面临洗钱指控。根据范赞特县拘留中心的囚犯数据库，两人已在8月1日下午遭到拘留。

美国联邦众议员兰斯·古登（Lance Gooden）在社交平台X上表示：“我所在的选区有两名役龄中国籍男子被捕，罪名是洗钱，他们携带了价值约25万美元的黄金。”

综合美国媒体报导，事发时，威尔斯角警察局警佐查理·休斯（Charlie Hughes）正在20号州际公路沿线进行交通执法。

在靠近20号州际公路西行533英里标记处时，发现一辆密西根州注册的白色雪佛兰Malibu违反交通规则。

休斯拦截了这辆汽车，经确认，肇事司机为25岁的陈伟健。由于语言障碍，休斯要求陈伟健到他的巡逻车上，并使用翻译应用程序与他交谈。

在谈话中，休斯“观察到了多种因素，导致他相信正在发生犯罪活动”。

陈伟健告诉休斯，他们从加州洛杉矶飞往乔治亚州亚特兰大“游玩”，但只在亚特兰大停留了一天。

陈伟健声称，他要去达拉斯，并准备前往佛罗里达“游玩”。

这台车辆是以林文强的名义租用的。在盘问完两人后，休斯取得了林文强的同意后，让警犬嗅探车辆，随后警犬“开始在前排乘客门缝处嗅闻，并向警员示警”。

官员车内发现了精神航空的登机证，显示陈伟建于7月30日下午5:19在洛杉矶登机。7月31日凌晨12:53抵达亚特兰大。

租赁协议显示，该车辆于7月31日凌晨1:28在乔治亚州大学公园市（College Park）租用，并预计于8月3日上午11:30在洛杉矶归还。

驾驶座后面的地板上有个袋子，官员们在其中发现了多块金条，估计价值在20万至25万美元之间。

据称，这两名中国男子声称，他们不知道袋子和黄金是谁的。他们双双被捕，并被送往范赞特县监狱。

两人被捕后，休斯联系了美国国土安全部，国土安全部审查了他们的移民记录，得知两人是非法入境的。

法庭文件指出，林文强于2023年9月15日在加州特卡特（Tecate）非法进入美国，收到出庭通知后，已在无需保证金的情况下获释。林文强原订于2024年9月在洛杉矶接受进一步的移民处理。

陈伟建于2023年12月17日在加州特卡特非法进入美国，收到了出庭通知后，已在无需保证金的情况下获释。其案件仍在处理中。

林文强供述，他离开中国前往香港，从那里飞往土耳其，然后飞往墨西哥。随后，他与其他中国走线者一起穿越墨西哥，试图进入美国。

休斯确认了，林、陈两人在乔治亚州，曾因交通违规被警方拦停。乔州警方也对两人产生了怀疑，并开始追踪他们的行踪，并联系了租赁公司以收集资讯。

透过租赁公司，乔治亚州警方得知，林、陈两人在遭到警方拦停后已返回该公司，并换成了另一辆车。

休斯说，乔治亚州警方透过识别该车辆确定，他们两人曾前往乔州玛丽埃塔市（Marietta）一个以走私活动闻名的区域。

在上周五（8月2日）的新闻发布会上，德州州众议员吉儿·达顿（Jill Dutton）和范赞特县地方检察官唐妲·库里（Tonda Curry）也将这起犯罪活动，归咎于当前的边境政策。

库里说：“他们是在现任政府的政策下被允许入境的。”

库里表示，检方有理由相信，这些金条是透过犯罪活动取得的。她说：“这些人就是跨越美国南部边界的那种人。”

“我相信他们之中也有好人。但他们当中也有一些人在占美国人的便宜。”库里说。

库里说，刑事资产没收仍是执法的重要工具。她表示，被没收的金条，将可重新投入威尔斯角警局、地区检察官办公室、乔治亚州警局的预算中。

Press Release
Five Chinese Nationals Indicted for Scamming Seniors Out of More Than $27 Million
Wednesday, July 31, 2024

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney’s Office, Southern District of California

NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – July 31, 2024

SAN DIEGO – An indictment was unsealed today alleging that five individuals participated in a massive, complex fraud and money laundering scheme that resulted in losses of more than $27 million to over 2,000 seniors.

During a coordinated law enforcement operation this morning in Los Angeles, California and Las Vegas, Nevada, about 60 federal, state and local law enforcement officials arrested four of the defendants—Zhao Wang of Henderson, Nevada; Jiandong Chen of Pomona, California; Jun Li of West Covina, California; and Xin Wang of San Gabriel, California—and searched their homes. The fifth defendant, Youfei Gong, was arrested on April 9, 2024, at his home in San Gabriel, California and was in custody on state charges.

According to the indictment and publicly filed documents, the five defendants and their co-conspirators operated a multinational organized fraud ring targeting elderly victims throughout the United States.

The indictment said conspirators contacted victims through unsolicited pop-up ads, emails and phone calls designed to get victims to contact scam call centers in India. The conspirators used social engineering techniques to build trust with victims. In many cases, the conspirators had victims install remote desktop software that the conspirators used to gain remote access to victims’ computers. After building trust with a victim based on fraudulent pretenses, the conspirators used technical support, government impersonation, bank impersonation and/or refund scams to induce victims to send money to other members of the conspiracy, including the five defendants charged in the indictment.

At the direction of conspirators, victims sent wire transfers or cash in express mail packages to locations throughout Southern California, Nevada and elsewhere. The defendants provided fake names and addresses corresponding with retail locations, including CVS Pharmacy locations, where packages were picked up. The defendants and co-conspirators picked up money-laden packages using fake IDs.

According to the indictment, the defendants specifically targeted elderly Americans. After receiving the victims’ money, the defendants laundered it through cryptocurrency transactions to their India-based co-conspirators. As defendant Xin Wang stated in a text message:

What I do is picking up packages from cvs with a fake ID.[The packages] contain cash. Laundering money for Indian scam syndicate(s).Large syndicate(s). My bosses launder over one million US dollars in a week.
Xin WANG describing the conspiracy in an August 18, 2023 text.

The FBI uncovered the multinational conspiracy showing the coordination between the defendants in the United States and their India-based co-conspirators who were in direct contact with victims. Between just 2021 to 2023, agents identified approximately 2,000 victims who lost more than $27 million to the conspirators. The indictment said the conspiracy continued through June 2024.

“Every day swindlers entangle unsuspecting seniors into scams to steal their hard-earned savings,” said U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath. “We urge everyone to use caution and consult with others before sending money to strangers they know only through phone calls, texts, or a computer.”

“Southern California is sadly a target rich environment for foreign and domestic scam artists who relentlessly prey on vulnerable Americans and their bank accounts,” said Akil Davis, the Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office. “Today’s arrests follow hard work by many dedicated law enforcement agencies and will aid our continuing efforts to educate potential victims to avoid responding to strangers who claim to care about them, and never give or send hard-earned money in response to a solicitation.”

“FBI San Diego Elder Justice Task Force, along with FBI LA, has worked tirelessly to bring justice to individuals who target, exploit, and victimize our most vulnerable citizens,” said Stacey Moy Special Agent in Charge for the Federal Bureau of Investigation San Diego Field Office. “The FBI remains resolute in our commitment to disrupt and dismantle foreign-based fraud schemes that prey on our older Americans. We will continue to work side by side with our law enforcement partners to deter and defeat organized fraud rings, no matter where they are located.”

This case was investigated by the San Diego Elder Justice Task Force and its member agencies, including the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Federal Bureau of Investigation, San Diego County District Attorney’s Office, Carlsbad Police Department, San Diego Police Department, and the California Highway Patrol.

If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has been a victim of financial fraud, help is available through the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833 FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). You can also report fraud to any local law enforcement agency or on the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Mokhtari.

DEFENDANTS Case Number 24CR1317-RSH

Zhao Wang, aka “Oscar” Age: 40 Henderson, NV

Jiandong Chen, aka “Little Tiger” Age: 40 Pomona, CA

Jun Li Age: 40 West Covina, CA

Xin Wang Age: 36 San Gabriel, CA

Youfei Gong Age: 29 San Gabriel, CA

SUMMARY OF CHARGES

Conspiracy to Commit Mail and Wire Fraud – Title 18, U.S.C., Sections 1349, 2326

Maximum Penalties: Forty years in prison; $1 million fine

Conspiracy to Launder Monetary Instruments – Title 18, U.S.C., Sections 1956(a)(1)(A)(i), 1956(a)(1)(B)(i) and 1956(h)

Maximum Penalties: Twenty years in prison; maximum fine of $500,000 or twice the amount laundered

Criminal Forfeiture – Title 18, U.S.C., Sections 981(a)(1)(C), 982(a)(1), 982(a)(2)(a), 2328 and Title 28, U.S.C., Section 2461(c)

INVESTIGATING AGENCIES

Federal Bureau of Investigation

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation – Office of Inspector General

Homeland Security Investigations

San Diego County District Attorney’s Office
San Diego County Sheriff’s Department

San Diego Police Department

San Diego Elder Justice Task Force

Chino Police Department

Coronado Police Department

Escondido Police Department

Glendora Police Department

Long Beach Police Department

Orange County Sheriff’s Department

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5中國公民涉詐騙逾2700萬 2人來自聖蓋博

31日，美國司法部公佈的一份起訴書稱，5名中國公民涉嫌參與了一項大規模、複雜的欺詐和洗錢計畫，導致2,000多名老年人上當受騙，損失多達2,700多萬美元。這5名被告中，4人來自南加州，其中2人來自聖蓋博。如罪名成立，將面臨最高刑期40年，罰款100萬美元。

聲明指出，在洛杉磯和拉斯維加斯的一次協同執法行動中，約60名聯邦、州和地方執法人員逮捕了其中4名被告。他們分別是內華達州40歲的Zhao Wang（又名Oscar）、波莫納市40歲的Jiandong Chen（又名Little Tiger）、西科維納市40歲的Jun Li、聖蓋博市36歲的Xin Wang。調查人員搜查了他們的住所。第5名被告是29歲的Youfei Gong，於今年4月9日在聖蓋博家中被捕，並因州指控被拘留。

根據起訴書和公開檔，這5名被告和印度同謀在全美各地運營著一個專門以美國老年人為目標的跨國詐騙團夥。

在騙局中，受害者按照詐騙分子的指示，將現金通過電匯至南加州、內華達州等地，或直接用包裹寄出。騙子提供了虛假姓名和與郵寄地址，並使用假身份證取走裝滿現金的快遞。在收到受害者的錢後，他們通過加密貨幣交易這種洗錢方式將贓款轉給印度同夥。

檢方稱，被告Xin Wang在短信中承認，自己用假ID從CVS取走快遞，快遞裏裝著現金。然後再把錢洗給印度詐騙集團，那是一個大型詐騙集團，老闆每個月能洗走100萬美元。

聯邦調查局（FBI）偵破了這起跨國案件，揭露了美國被告和印度同夥之間的協作和套路。在2021年至2023年間，聯邦特工就確認了約2000名受害者，他們受騙損失超過2700萬美元。這一騙局一直持續到2024年6月。

聯邦檢察官Tara McGrath說：“每天都有騙子將毫無戒備的老年人捲入騙局，騙取他們辛苦賺來的積蓄。我們呼籲民眾給網上認識的人匯款一定要謹慎，並詢問家人朋友的意見。”

FBI洛杉磯處副局長Akil Davis指出，南加州是跨國詐騙的高發地，詐騙分子無情地掠奪著受害者的銀行帳戶，FBI將繼續幫助潛在受害者免遭那些陌生人騙走他們辛苦賺來的錢。

此案由聖地牙哥老年司法工作組及其成員機構聯合調查，包括美國檢察官辦公室、聯邦調查局、聖地牙哥縣檢察長辦公室、卡爾斯巴德警局、聖地牙哥警局和加州高速公路巡警。

New York man charged for targeting Maryland woman in gold bar scam

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Md. (7News) — A New York man is facing charges after targeting a Silver Spring, Maryland woman in a gold bar scam, according to Montgomery County police.

In May 2024, the woman was contacted by an unknown person who directed her to transfer her assets into gold bars to prevent Russia from taking her money, according to officials.

The woman complied and handed the person several packages worth over $900,000 in gold bars, officials said.

On Monday, July 15, around 5:22 p.m., Zhenyong Weng, 19, of Brooklyn, NY was arrested in Silver Spring as he attempted to collect a package from the woman worth over $70,000, according to officials.

The arrest came during an operation conducted by Montgomery County officers working with the Financial Crimes section.

Weng is being held without bond at the Montgomery Central Processing Unit, officials said.

Officials believe there could be additional victims. Anyone with information is urged to call 1-866-411-8477 or share a tip online HERE.

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据蒙哥马利县警方称，一名纽约男子因针对马里兰州银泉市一名女子实施金条诈骗而面临指控。

据官员称，2024 年 5 月，一名身份不明的人联系了这名女子，指示她将资产转移到金条中，以防止俄罗斯拿走她的钱。

官员称，这名女子遵从了命令，并递给该男子几包价值超过 90 万美元的金条，该男并试图再窃取约 250 万美元。

据警方透露，7 月 15 日星期一下午 5 点 22 分左右，来自纽约布鲁克林的 19 岁男子 Zhenyong Weng 在银泉市被捕，当时他正试图从这名女子手中收取一个价值超过 7 万美元的包裹。

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19-Year-Old Held Without Bond in Gold Bar Scam

Zhenyong Weng, of Brooklyn, NY, has been arrested for allegedly targeting an 82-year-old Silver Spring woman through a government-imposter-related gold bar scam.

According to court documents, Barbara Lampe fell victim to the scam, which resulted in the theft of over $900,000 and an attempt to steal an additional approximately $2,500,000.

The victim explained that while using her computer, she received an alert on the monitor directing her to call a phone number. The website alert falsely informed the victim that the criminal had flagged her computer, bank account, and social security number. The victim called the number directly and was told by the unknown suspect caller that many people were affected by the problem and that she needed to secure her money.

Believing her finances were in danger, the victim followed the suspect’s instructions. On or around April 22, 2024, an unknown suspect using the name “Tracy” called the victim and directed her to transfer $46,000 to Coopaa Fashionable to prevent Russia from stealing it from her account. The victim followed the instructions and electronically transferred the funds to another account, where they were stolen, according to the documents.

On Monday, July 15, 2024, at approximately 5:22 p.m., Weng was arrested in Silver Spring while he attempted to collect a package from the victim valued at over $70,000. The arrest was conducted by Montgomery County Police 1st District officers working in conjunction with the Financial Crimes Section and the Violent Crimes Information Center (VCIC).

Detectives believe there may be additional victims and want to remind the community that law enforcement will never attempt to contact you in this manner.

Weng is being held without bond at the Montgomery County Central Processing Unit.

Anyone with information regarding this crime is asked to visit the Crime Solvers of Montgomery County, MD website at  www.crimesolversmcmd.org  and click on the www.p3tips.com  link at the top of the page or call 1-866-411-8477. A reward of up to $10,000 is offered for information leading to the suspect’s arrest. Tips may remain anonymous.

For additional information regarding frauds and scams or how to report a situation, please visit https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/pol/fraud/financial-crimes-section.html.

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Gold bar scammers bilk nearly $1M from Maryland woman, police say
Gold bar fraud trend involves parcels of precious metals, parking lot meet-ups and fake federal agents.

For the second time in four months, police in Maryland say, fraudsters running a complicated scam involving gold bars bilked a Montgomery County resident out of more than $780,000.

The man charged in the new case, Zhenyong Weng, 19, was ordered held without bond Tuesday.

“A major crime in my eyes,” Montgomery District Judge Aileen Oliver said. “It’s stealing from a senior citizen at a time in their life when they need financial support.”

Investigators accused Weng of being a “courier” in a scam that set up furtive gold bar exchanges in parking lots and used code words like “watermelon” to communicate. The group took more than $900,000 in gold bars and money from their target — an 82-year-old woman — and nearly got another $2.6 million, according to court filings. As in the earlier case, police said, investigators learned of the fraud scheme, turned the tables on the alleged scammers by disguising themselves as a victim and arrested a suspect after he pulled into a parking lot thinking he was getting more gold bars. There is no indication from court filings that the cases are related.

Weng’s defense attorney, while arguing Tuesday his client should be released from jail pending further court proceedings, noted his client was accused only of trying to make a pickup. “It’s certainly not that a $900,000 fraud scheme of an 82-year-old in Montgomery County isn’t serious conduct,” said the attorney, Andrew Treske, “I think the question is, ‘What was Mr. Weng’s involvement?’”

Treske said there is no indication Weng set up the scam or communicated with the mastermind behind it.

The judge questioned how he’d be in the dark.

“So he drove from New York down here to pick up a package from an elderly woman and doesn’t know there’s probably something illegal going on?” Oliver wondered. “I don’t know.”

In court filings, investigators described the scam much like one in March that resulted in a resident of Montgomery County’s Leisure World community getting bilked out of $789,000.

In the new case, the woman was working at her computer when she received a “website alert” claiming that “criminals had flagged her computer, bank account, and social security number,” investigators wrote in court papers. She called a provided number and was told that many others had also been hit and she needed to secure her money. Around April 22, police say, a person from the group using the name “Tracy” convinced the victim to transfer $46,000 into another account “to prevent Russia from stealing it,” investigators asserted. The scammers later persuaded her to purchase gold bars from legitimate precious-metal dealers and have them sent to her home.

In court filings, detectives described the ruse broadly as a “government impostor scam,” whereby fraudsters pretend to be officials from the FBI, Department of Justice, Treasury Department, Federal Trade Commission or other agencies. They convince targets their bank holdings aren’t safe and they should liquidate into gold bars, cashiers checks or cash itself. Once gold bars arrive at the victim’s homes, the scammers convince their targets to hand them over — doing so in meetings cloaked in secrecy because of the supposed criminals moving in on them — all with the understanding the targets will get their holdings back when things are safe.

“Doctors, lawyers, executives. I’ve seen pretty much any victim,” FBI Supervisory Special Agent Keith Custer said of gold bar and related scams, adding, “Once the victim is on the hook, the scammer will keep going.”

In the case involving Weng, police say, a man posing as an “undercover agent” met the victim at a Wendy’s restaurant on May 3 and took possession of $266,948.75 worth of gold bars. The scammers then convinced her to buy several hundred thousand dollars more in gold bars, met her at a shopping center, and stole it, according to police.

Still on the hook, and still scared she would lose her savings if she didn’t act, the woman purchased $2.55 million more in gold bars from a company based in Massachusetts. But she grew suspicious, police say, and the new gold orders were stopped before they were shipped. As the woman began working with detectives, she spoke with the scammers, according to court records. The courier eventually agreed to pick up a gold bar from her, valued at about $75,000, on July 15.

But the courier was instead heading into a sting operation, police say.

A detective “portrayed herself as the victim and placed a cardboard box, which was said to contain the gold bar, in the rear passenger seat of the victim’s vehicle,” according to charging documents.

The detective then drove to an arranged meeting spot, parked, and waited for a man to show up. He did so, saying the code word “watermelon,” and opened a rear door, grabbed the box and left — only to be quickly arrested by plainclothes officers who had the parking lot under surveillance, court documents said.

Weng was interviewed by detectives, “and made admissions that he was to meet the victim to pick up a package and was to get paid $500 to $1,000,” police said.

While being booked into jail, Weng said he was born in China, lived with his mother in Brooklyn and had been there for seven years. He said he worked as a server as a Chinese restaurant. In court Tuesday, a corrections official said Weng would not provide his parents’ contact information because he didn’t want them to be called.

In the earlier case, Wenhui Sun, who was first arrested in March, was indicted on May 2 by a Montgomery County grand jury on four theft-related counts, according to court records. He remains held on no bond and has a Dec. 2 trial date set.

Sun’s attorney, Andrew Jezic, declined to comment Tuesday

Montgomery Police Detective Sean Petty, a financial crimes investigator, said the county’s relative wealth may play a role in residents being targeted. He said the victims tend to be older, trusting, and have saved a lot of money. His advice: “If anyone contacts you via text message, email, phone call, or by any other means and says that they are with any federal/state agency and you need to purchase gold for safekeeping, you should immediately think that this is a scam.”

And when in doubt, he added, call the police.

Four from A.P., Telangana held for human trafficking in U.S.

Four persons from the Telugu States of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana were arrested in Collin County, Texas, United States, on Monday on charges of alleged trafficking of people, a second-degree felony which would make them liable for prison for up to 20 years.

Those arrested were identified as Chandan Dasireddy, 24, Dwaraka Gunda, 31, Santhosh Katkoori, 31, and Anil Male, 37, the Princeton police department posted a release on its website on Monday.

Further charges of multiple parties are still pending as the investigation is underway, it stated.

According to the police, the case came to light on March 13, when a pest-control worker who attended a service on Ginsburg Lane saw more than a dozen women living in the same house. The young women were sleeping on the floor, there was no furniture, but had many computers and printers.

After an initial report, the Princeton police searched the house of Santhosh Katkoori and found 15 women. Various devices and documents were seized. And as the investigation progressed, other locations such as Melissa and McKinney were also found to have harboured victims, including men. More devices and documents were seized and analysed, the release said.

As per the investigation, the police disclosed that the women were forced to work for Santhosh Katkoori and his wife Dwaraka Gunda for multiple programming shell companies owned by them.

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15 women rescued from Collin County trafficking operation after tip from pest control company
Police say both women and men were forced to work as programmers for a couple’s shell companies

Four people were arrested and charged as part of a human trafficking bust in Princeton. NBC 5’s Alanna Quillen has the details.

Police in Princeton on Monday announced they’d uncovered a large labor trafficking operation in Collin County earlier this spring while responding to a welfare call.

According to an arrest affidavit obtained by NBC 5, Princeton police said a pest control company called to treat bed bugs at a home on the 1000 block of Ginsburg Lane on March 13 reported a “suspicious circumstance” and requested a welfare check.

During the investigation into the report, Princeton police obtained a search warrant for Santhosh Katkoori’s home. Once inside the house, police discovered 15 adult women who they said were forced to work for several shell companies owned by Katkoori and his wife, Dwaraka Gunda.

Investigators said the victims, which included both women and men, were working as programmers and that during the search of the home on Ginsburg Lane, several laptops, phones, printers, and fraudulent documents were seized.

Princeton police said they later learned multiple locations in the cities of Princeton, Melissa, and McKinney were involved in the forced labor operation and that they later seized more laptops, phones, and documents from other locations.

The police statement did not include the addresses of those other locations or details about the nature of the programming work done for the couple’s alleged shell companies.

An arrest affidavit obtained by NBC 5 said Princeton police were tipped off to the operation by Arrow Pest Control who had been called to the house to treat bed bugs. After leaving the house, the technician reported what he saw inside the home, and that information was relayed to the police. In an interview with detectives, the tech confirmed he’d seen 15-20 young women sleeping on bed rolls in various rooms. He also said he saw many suitcases in the living area and no furniture in the home other than folding tables.

According to the affidavit, the women inside the home later told police they were brought to Princeton for an “internship” where they would apply for jobs and learn Javascript. Police said once the girls obtained a job, the money from those jobs went directly to the homeowner’s company. The homeowner, police said, held back 20% of the money the women earned and then gave them the remainder.

Princeton police said Monday, after investigators conducted an analysis of all of the electronics seized and the nature of the operation was confirmed, they issued arrest warrants for four people now charged with trafficking of persons, a second-degree felony.

Police identified the suspects as 31-year-old Santhosh Katkoori, of Melissa; 31-year-old Dwaraka Gunda, of Melissa; 24-year-old Chandan Dasireddy, of Melissa; and 37-year-old Anil Male, of Prosper. It’s unclear if any of the four charged have obtained attorneys to speak on their behalf.

Princeton police said further charges of multiple parties are still pending as this investigation continues. Anyone with information about the labor trafficking operation or who was a victim of human/labor trafficking is asked to call the Princeton Police Department at 972-736-3901 or dial 911 immediately.

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15 women found sleeping on floor of bare Texas home were trafficked for ‘forced labor’: police

Four people have been arrested in Texas for running a “forced labor” scheme from an unassuming home on a quiet block, leaving neighbors stunned.

Fifteen women were found living in a home in Princeton — about 45 miles northeast of downtown Dallas — following a welfare check where they were forced to sleep on the floor when they weren’t working, according to Fox 4 News.

There was essentially no furniture in the home — just blankets and a bunch of computers and other electronics, police said in an announcement Monday.

The women were reported to police by a pest control company that was called to the home for bedbugs, according to an affidavit obtained by the outlet.

The inspector noted that “each room… had 3-5 young females sleeping on the floors” and said there were “large amounts of suitcases.”

Chandan Dasireddy, 24; Dwaraka Gunda, 31; Santhosh Katkoori, 31 — all of Melissa, Texas — and Anil Male, 37, of Prosper were arrested in March and charged with human trafficking.

Police said the women were forced to work for Katkoori and several programming shell companies owned by him and his wife, Gunda.

A search of the home revealed several laptops, cell phones, printers and fraudulent documents.

Investigators later learned that the forced labor operation included multiple locations in Princeton, Melissa and KcKinney with dozens of victims — including adult males. Additional electronics and documents were seized from other locations.

Princeton Police Sgt. Carolyn Crawford told Fox 4 that “over 100” people were involved — more than half of whom are victims.

More arrests are expected, cops said.

“How we came across this situation was very unique,” Princeton Police Chief James Waters said. “[Investigators] would unravel just a multitude of other clues and a multitude of other scenes that was going out there.”

The neighborhood is shocked such an operation was happening on their street.

“I would’ve never thought that something like this was going on like a few houses down from mine,” neighbor Herbert Logan said.

Another neighbor, Steven Watkins, said he had “no idea about anything.”

“What was going on before we even moved in here? It’s kind of really dark to think about,” he said.

Police would not disclose where the victims are from or if they ever tried to escape.

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周一，四名来自泰卢固语邦安得拉邦和特伦甘纳邦的嫌疑人因涉嫌贩卖人口在美国德克萨斯州科林县被捕，这是一项二级重罪，最高可判处 20 年监禁。

普林斯顿警察局周一在其网站上发布了一份声明，称被捕人员分别为 24 岁的 Chandan Dasireddy、31 岁的 Dwaraka Gunda、31 岁的 Santhosh Katkoori 和 37 岁的 Anil Male。

据警方介绍，该案于3月13日被曝光，当时一名在金斯伯格巷参加服务活动的害虫防治工人发现同一栋房子里住着十几名女性。这些年轻女性睡在地板上，没有家具，但有很多台电脑和打印机。

接到初步报告后，普林斯顿警方搜查了桑托什·卡特库里的家，发现了 15 名女性。警方缴获了各种设备和文件。随着调查的深入，警方还发现梅利莎和麦金尼等其他地点也窝藏了受害者，其中包括男性。新闻稿称，警方缴获并分析了更多设备和文件。

根据调查，警方透露，这些女子被迫为桑托什·卡特库里 (Santhosh Katkoori) 和他的妻子德瓦拉卡·贡达 (Dwaraka Gunda) 拥有的多家编程空壳公司工作。

PRESS RELEASE
National Health Care Fraud Enforcement Action Results in 193 Defendants Charged and Over $2.75 Billion in False Claims
Thursday, June 27, 2024

For Immediate Release
Office of Public Affairs

The Justice Department today announced the 2024 National Health Care Fraud Enforcement Action, which resulted in criminal charges against 193 defendants, including 76 doctors, nurse practitioners, and other licensed medical professionals in 32 federal districts across the United States, for their alleged participation in various health care fraud schemes involving approximately $2.75 billion in intended losses and $1.6 billion in actual losses.

In connection with the coordinated nationwide law enforcement action, and together with federal and state law enforcement partners, the government seized over $231 million in cash, luxury vehicles, gold, and other assets.

“It does not matter if you are a trafficker in a drug cartel or a corporate executive or medical professional employed by a health care company, if you profit from the unlawful distribution of controlled substances, you will be held accountable,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “The Justice Department will bring to justice criminals who defraud Americans, steal from taxpayer-funded programs, and put people in danger for the sake of profits.”

“The extraordinary Special Agents of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) were proud to play an integral role in this multi-agency investigation and national takedown of healthcare fraud,” said Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas. “Through this action, we in federal law enforcement send a clear and strong message—that we will hold accountable those health care providers and prescribers who prey on their patients for profit and disregard the first rule of medical care: do no harm.”

“Healthcare fraud victimizes patients, endangers the health of vulnerable people, and plunders healthcare programs,” said FBI Director Christopher Wray. “This wide-ranging collaboration demonstrates the FBI’s commitment to rooting out predatory healthcare fraud, protecting patients, and ensuring critical healthcare funds go where they are needed most.”

The charges alleged include over $900 million fraud scheme committed in connection with amniotic wound grafts; the unlawful distribution of millions of pills of Adderall and other stimulants by five defendants associated with a digital technology company; an over $90 million fraud committed by corporate executives distributing adulterated and misbranded HIV medication; over $146 million in fraudulent addiction treatment schemes; over $1.1 billion in telemedicine and laboratory fraud; and over $450 million in other health care fraud and opioid schemes.

“Health care fraud affects every American,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “It siphons off hard-earned tax dollars meant to provide care for the vulnerable and disabled. In doing so, it also raises the cost of care for all patients. Even worse, as the prosecutions we announce today underscore, health care fraud can harm patients and fuel addiction. The Criminal Division is committed to rooting out health care fraud, wherever it may be found, no matter who commits it. And we are using more tools than ever before to uncover misconduct and hold wrongdoers to account, whether they are executives in corner offices or doctors who violate their oaths.”

Today’s enforcement action was led and coordinated by the Health Care Fraud Unit of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and its core partners: U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), FBI, and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). The cases were investigated by agents from the division’s core partner agencies along with other federal and state law enforcement agencies. The cases are being prosecuted by Health Care Fraud Strike Force teams from the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section, 32 U.S. Attorneys’ Offices nationwide, and 11 State Attorney Generals’ Offices.

“This work is important to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the millions of Americans we serve. HHS vigorously pursues anyone who commits fraud against our health care programs. But it takes all of us, working together, to be successful,” said HHS Deputy Secretary Andrea Palm. “Those who steal from these programs are stealing from the American families who rely on them and putting patients at risk. We won’t stop until all those who try to defraud the federal government are caught and held accountable.”

“We will not tolerate fraud that preys on patients who need and deserve high quality health care,” said the HHS-OIG Inspector General Christi A. Grimm. “The hard work of the HHS-OIG team and our outstanding law enforcement partners makes today’s action possible. We must protect taxpayer dollars and keep Americans safe from harms to their health, privacy, and financial well-being.”

Amniotic Wound Grafts

Charges were filed in the District of Arizona against four individuals who allegedly filed $900 million in false and fraudulent claims to Medicare for amniotic wound grafts used on Medicare patients. As alleged, the defendants targeted elderly Medicare patients, many of whom were terminally ill. The defendants caused medically unnecessary and expensive amniotic grafts to be applied to these vulnerable patients’ wounds indiscriminately, without coordination with the patients’ treating physicians and without proper treatment for infection, to superficial wounds that did not need this treatment, and in sizes that far exceeded the size of the wound. In just 16 months, Medicare paid two defendants more than $600 million as a result of their fraud scheme, paying on average more than a million dollars per patient for these unnecessary grafts. These two defendants owned wound care companies in Arizona and received more than $330 million in illegal kickbacks in exchange for purchasing the grafts billed to Medicare. In connection with the charges, the government seized over $70 million, including four luxury vehicles, gold, jewelry, and cash.

“Every dollar saved by investigating fraud is critical to the sustainability of the Medicare program and the needs of the people who depend on it,” said Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). “In addition to the actions taken by the Justice Department, CMS took 127 administrative actions in the last six months separately against providers for their alleged involvement in health care fraud schemes. We thank our partners at the Department of Justice and Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General for working closely with us to identify, investigate, and eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse in our federal health care programs.”

Distribution of Adderall and Other Stimulants

Five additional defendants associated with digital technology company Done Global Inc. and its affiliated entity, Done Health P.C. (collectively, “Done”), were charged for the unlawful distribution of millions of Adderall pills. The CEO and Clinical President of Done were charged on June 13 in a scheme to distribute Adderall and other stimulants over the internet. The charges announced today include those against one of the most prolific prescribers working for Done, a Florida nurse practitioner who prescribed over 1.5 million pills of Adderall and other stimulants to patients across the United States. The indictment alleges that the nurse practitioner prescribed Adderall and other stimulants without interaction with patients, pursuant to Done’s “auto-refill” policy. This policy allowed patients to obtain continued prescriptions after an initial encounter without any further audio or visual interaction with a medical professional. This allegedly resulted in the nurse practitioner prescribing Adderall and other stimulants to individuals suffering from drug addiction and continuing to issue Adderall prescriptions for months after the overdose deaths of patients.

“DEA works tirelessly to protect the public from harm, be it cartels funneling fentanyl into our communities or medical providers caring more about profits than patients,” said DEA Administrator Anne Milgram. “The CEO and clinical director of Done Global Inc. are charged with over-prescribing millions of unneeded stimulant pills, potentially putting patients in danger and exacerbating the current stimulant medicine shortage. The seriousness of these actions should not be understated. DEA will continue to hold anyone accountable who endangers the health and well-being of Americans.”

Diverted HIV Medication

Three owners and executives of a wholesale distributor of pharmaceutical drugs were charged in connection with an alleged $90 million wire fraud conspiracy to introduce adulterated and misbranded HIV drugs into the market. The HIV drugs were allegedly acquired through unlawful “buyback” schemes in which previously dispensed bottles of prescription drugs were bought from vulnerable patients. The defendants allegedly purchased these drugs from the black market and resold them to pharmacies throughout the country with falsified documentation designed to conceal the true source of the medication. Pharmacies then dispensed these diverted HIV medications to unsuspecting patients. At times, patients received bottles labeled as their prescription medication, but the bottles contained a different drug entirely, with one patient passing out and remaining unconscious for 24 hours after taking an anti-psychotic drug thinking it was his prescribed HIV medication.

Addiction Treatment Cases

The addiction treatment cases announced today include charges filed in the District of Arizona and Southern District of Florida against four defendants in connection with more than $146 million of allegedly false and fraudulent claims for services for vulnerable patients seeking treatment for drug or alcohol addiction. As alleged in one of the indictments, one defendant paid kickbacks in exchange for the referral of patients recruited from the homeless population and Native American reservations. She then fraudulently billed Arizona Medicaid for substance abuse treatment services that were either never provided or were provided at a level that was so substandard that it failed to serve any treatment purpose. The defendant is charged with money laundering offenses for her lavish purchases with the fraud proceeds, as well as obstruction of justice for allegedly falsifying records in response to a grand jury subpoena for documents.

Telemedicine and Laboratory Fraud Cases

Thirty-six defendants were charged in connection with the submission of over $1.1 billion in fraudulent claims to Medicare resulting from telemedicine schemes. For example, in separate cases involving similar schemes that were perpetrated by different criminal networks in the Southern District of Texas, Northern District of Texas, and District of New Jersey, clinical laboratory owners allegedly paid illegal kickbacks and bribes, including to telemedicine companies, in exchange for the referral of orders for unnecessary genetic testing. The results of these genetic tests—which were supposed to detect genetic mutations that could indicate an elevated risk of cancer, cardiovascular disease, Parkinson’s disease, and other serious illness—were not used in the patients’ treatment. Other telemedicine schemes included the unsealing of a complaint in the Eastern District of Virginia against a psychiatrist who allegedly submitted fraudulent claims based on minimal patient interactions, including for visits that lasted between 10 to 30 seconds. The continued focus on prosecuting health care fraud schemes involving telemedicine reflects the Department’s commitment to rooting out these schemes, which has saved taxpayers billions of dollars.

Cases Involving the Illegal Prescription and Distribution of Opioids and Other Health Care Fraud Schemes

The other cases announced today charge 14 defendants with crimes related to the illegal prescription and distribution of opioids that resulted in millions in false billings, including several charges against medical professionals and others who prescribed unnecessary opioids, Suboxone, and other controlled substances.

An additional 126 defendants are charged with various other health care fraud schemes involving over $450 million in false and fraudulent claims to Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurance companies for treatments that were medically unnecessary or never provided. Ten defendants across the country were charged in connection with fraudulent COVID-19 testing, including an over $65 million scheme charged in the Southern District of Florida.

The Center for Program Integrity of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CPI/CMS) separately announced today that it took adverse administrative actions in the last six months against 127 medical providers for their alleged involvement in health care fraud.

Principal Assistant Deputy Chief Jacob Foster, Assistant Chief Rebecca Yuan, and Trial Attorney Miriam L. Glaser Dauermann of the Health Care Fraud Unit of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section led and coordinated today’s enforcement action. The cases are being prosecuted by the Health Care Fraud Unit’s National Rapid Response, Florida, Gulf Coast, Los Angeles, Midwest, Northeast, and Texas Strike Forces; U.S. Attorneys’ Offices for the Southern District of Alabama, District of Arizona, Central District of California, Northern District of California, Southern District of California, District of Connecticut, Middle District of Florida, Southern District of Florida, Northern District of Illinois, Eastern District of Kentucky, Western District of Kentucky, Eastern District of Louisiana, Middle District of Louisiana, Western District of Louisiana, Eastern District of Michigan, Western District of Michigan, Southern District of Mississippi, District of Montana, District of New Jersey, Eastern District of New York, Eastern District of North Carolina, Western District of Oklahoma, District of Rhode Island, Eastern District of Tennessee, Middle District of Tennessee, Eastern District of Texas, Northern District of Texas, Southern District of Texas, Eastern District of Virginia, Western District of Virginia, Southern District of West Virginia, and Eastern District of Wisconsin; and State Attorney Generals’ Offices for Arizona, California, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, New York, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, and South Dakota. The Health Care Fraud Unit’s Data Analytics Team used cutting-edge data analytics to identify and support the investigations that led to these charges.

In addition to the FBI, HHS-OIG, DEA, and CMS/CPI, HSI, IRS Criminal Investigation, Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service, Department of Labor, United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General, and other federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies participated in the operation. The Medicaid Fraud Control Units of the states of Arizona, California, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia also participated in the investigation of many of the federal and state cases announced today.

The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force. Prior to the charges announced as part of today’s nationwide enforcement action and since its inception in March 2007, the Health Care Fraud Strike Force, which operates in 27 districts, charged more than 5,400 defendants who collectively billed Medicare, Medicaid, and private health insurers more than $27 billion.

https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/national-health-care-fraud-enforcement-action-results-193-defendants-charged-and-over-275-0
https://www.justice.gov/criminal/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit/2024-national-hcf-case-summaries

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Justice Department charges nearly 200 people in $2.7 billion health care fraud schemes crackdown

WASHINGTON (AP) — Nearly 200 people have been charged in a sweeping nationwide crackdown on health care fraud schemes with false claims topping $2.7 billion, the Justice Department said on Thursday.

Attorney General Merrick Garland announced the charges against doctors, nurse practitioners and others across the U.S. accused of a variety of scams, including a $900 million scheme in Arizona targeting dying patients.

“It does not matter if you are a trafficker in a drug cartel or a corporate executive or medical professional employed by a health care company,” Garland told reporters. “If you profit from the unlawful distribution of controlled substances, you will be held accountable.”

In the Arizona case, prosecutors have accused two owners of wound care companies of accepting more than $330 million in kickbacks as part of a scheme to fraudulently bill Medicare for amniotic wound grafts, which are dressings to help heal wounds.

Nurse practitioners were pressured to apply the wound grafts to elderly patients who didn’t need them, including people in hospice care, the Justice Department said. Some patients died the day they received the grafts or within days, court papers say.

In less than two years, more than $900 million in bogus claims were submitted to Medicare for grafts that were used on fewer than 500 patients, prosecutors said.

The owners of the wound care companies, Alexandra Gehrke and Jeffrey King, were arrested this month at the Phoenix airport as they were boarding a flight to London, according to court papers urging a judge to keep them behind bars while they await trial. An attorney for Gehrke declined to comment, and a lawyer for King didn’t immediately respond to an email from The Associated Press.

Authorities allege Gehrke and King, who got married this year, knew charges were coming and had been preparing to flee. At their home, authorities found a book titled “How To Disappear: Erase Your Digital Footprint, Leave False Trails, and Vanish Without a Trace,” according to court papers. In one of their bags packed for their flight, there was a book titled “Criminal Law Handbook: Know Your Rights, Survive The System,” the papers say.

Gehrke and King lived lavishly off the scheme, prosecutors allege, citing luxury cars, a nearly $6 million home and more than $520,000 in gold bars, coins and jewelry. Officials seized more than $52 million from Gehrke’s personal and business bank accounts after her arrest, prosecutors say.

In total, 193 people — including 76 doctors, nurse practitioners, and other licensed medical professionals — were charged in a series of separate cases brought over about two weeks in the nationwide health care fraud sweep. Authorities seized more than $230 million in cash, luxury cars and other assets. The Justice Department carries out these sweeping health care fraud efforts periodically to help deter other potential wrongdoers.

In another scheme targeting Native Americans, phony sober living homes were set up promising addiction treatment. Claims were then submitted for services that were never actually performed, officials said.

Another case alleges a scheme in Florida to distribute misbranded HIV drugs. Prosecutors say drugs were bought on the black market and resold to unsuspecting pharmacies, which then provided the medications to patients.

Some patients were given bottles that contained different drugs than the label showed. One patient ended up unconscious for 24 hours after taking what he was led to believe was his HIV medication but was actually an anti-psychotic drug, prosecutors say.

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司法部搗破27億元醫療詐欺案 起訴近200人

聯邦司法部週四宣布搗破大規模醫療詐欺案，詐騙總額高達27億元，起訴近200人，當中70多人為醫生護士等註冊醫療專業人員。

聯邦司法部大規模掃蕩醫療詐騙案，起訴近200人，當中76名被告是醫生、護士和其他註冊醫療專業人員，詐騙案涉及的總額高達27億美元，當局查獲了超過2億3100萬美元的現金、豪華汽車、黃金及其他資產。

聯邦司法部長加蘭（Merrick Garland）說：「無論你是販毒集團的毒販，還是醫療保健公司僱用的企業高層或專業人士，都沒有關係，如果你從非法分銷受管制物質中獲利，你必被追究責任。」

當局指，在其中一個個案中，有被告人向病危的老人家提供非必要的植皮手術，然後向Medicare聯邦醫療保險申請報銷，並獲得款項。

在另一個個案中，有藥品分銷商涉嫌銷售假和標示不實的藥物，作為HIV的治療藥物，其他被告則被指控為原住民，設立虛假的戒毒康復中心。

A California senior lost $700K to scammers. Now she’s asking the state to slow bank transfers

Alice Lin’s husband died, and she found herself alone and caring for a disabled son. Then two years ago, the 81-year-old Alhambra woman said she started getting texts from a stranger on a messaging app.

Over the course of a series of friendly chats, he convinced her to wire $720,000 — her entire life savings — to a cryptocurrency app.

So she did – in seven separate in-person transactions at her local bank over three weeks. Her life savings disappeared, along with the man who scammed her. For a time, she said she contemplated suicide. But then she got angry – at her bank.

“Despite many red, red flags, my bank failed to consider that I might be a victim of elder fraud,” Lin told the California Assembly’s Banking and Finance Committee this week. “And they did not even contact my daughter, who is the joint account holder on the account.”

In the months since, Lin started working with Consumer Attorneys of California to sponsor Senate Bill 278, a measure aimed at preventing elder fraud scams like the one that drained Lin’s investment accounts.

The bill, by Napa Democratic Sen. Bill Dodd, would require that financial institutions delay transactions of more than $5,000 by at least three days if they “reasonably” suspect an elderly person is a victim of fraud. Banks would be required to train their employees to spot red flags, such as an unusually large and sudden transaction. Banks would also have to take steps to inform an elderly customer’s designated “emergency financial contact” or joint account holder – someone like Lin’s daughter – of a suspected fraudulent transaction.

“Elder financial abuse is everywhere,” Dodd told the banking committee. “Losses exceed $23 billion annually. Once a senior falls prey to financial fraud, they may never recover.”

Dodd’s bill passed the Senate this spring with support from every prominent senior advocacy group in California, including the AARP. The measure originally faced intense opposition from the state’s banking and business lobbies, though they’ve since softened their stance after the bill was recently amended.

The financial institutions cite worries that they’d be forced into defacto conservatorships that would give them too much control over an elderly customer’s finances. The restrictions would also limit how quickly customers get their cash for legitimate expenses.

It was a concern shared by Roseville Republican Sen. Roger Niello who cast the lone “no” vote when the bill was before the Senate’s judiciary committee last month.

“As the bill exists now, it seems to me we run the risk of more conflict between seniors and their financial institutions than we do limiting elder abuse,” said Niello, who used the opportunity to give Dodd, 68, a good-natured ribbing about his age.

“I want you to know you don’t look a day over 90,” said Niello, who is 76 and the third-oldest member of the Legislature.

Dodd told the Assembly committee that the bill has been amended to limit the liability banks could face “when they do the right thing to protect elderly people, their customers.”

That eased some of the concerns from the 13 financial and business groups, including the California Chamber of Commerce, that are listed as opponents to Dodd’s bill.

“We think what’s in front of us right now, while it’s going to be a heavy lift for credit unions, the good outweighs the work that’s going to go in there,” Robert Wilson, a lobbyist with the California Credit Union League, told the banking committee this week. “This is going to protect seniors.”

Wilson and other bankers remain leery of how Dodd’s measure would be enforced – a matter that Dodd says will get cleared up by the time the bill reaches the Assembly Judiciary Committee next week.

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加州一名老年人被骗子骗走 70 万美元。现在她要求州政府放慢银行转账速度

爱丽丝·林的丈夫去世了，她发现自己孤身一人，还要照顾一个残疾儿子。两年前，这位 81 岁的阿罕布拉妇女说，她开始在短信应用程序上收到陌生人发来的短信。

在一系列友好聊天中，他说服她将 72 万美元（她一生的全部积蓄）汇入一款加密货币应用程序。

于是她就这么做了——三周内，她亲自到当地银行办理了七次交易。她的毕生积蓄消失了，连同那个骗她的男子一起消失了。有一段时间，她说她想过自杀。但后来她对银行感到愤怒。

林本周告诉加州议会银行和金融委员会：“尽管有很多危险信号，但我的银行却没有考虑到我可能是老年人欺诈的受害者。”“他们甚至没有联系我的女儿，她是该账户的联名账户持有人。”

此后几个月，林开始与加州消费者律师协会合作，发起参议院第 278 号法案，该法案旨在防止像林的投资账户被盗那样的老年人欺诈骗局。

纳帕民主党参议员比尔·多德 (Bill Dodd) 提出的这项法案要求，如果金融机构“合理地”怀疑老年人是欺诈的受害者，则应将超过 5,000 美元的交易延迟至少三天。银行将被要求培训员工识别危险信号，例如异常大额和突然的交易。银行还必须采取措施，将疑似欺诈交易通知老年客户的指定“紧急财务联系人”或联名账户持有人（例如林的女儿）。

多德告诉银行委员会：“老年人财务欺诈无处不在。每年损失超过 230 亿美元。一旦老年人成为金融欺诈的受害者，他们可能永远无法恢复。”

今年春天，多德的法案在加州所有知名老年人权益倡导团体（包括美国退休人员协会）的支持下在参议院获得通过。该法案最初遭到加州银行和商业游说团体的强烈反对，不过在法案最近被修订后，他们的立场已经软化。

金融机构担心，它们可能会被迫接受事实上的托管，从而对老年客户的财务拥有过多的控制权。这些限制还会限制客户获得合法支出现金的速度。

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Superseding Indictment
https://www.justice.gov/opa/media/1356301/dl?inline

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PRESS RELEASE
Federal Indictment Alleges Alliance Between Sinaloa Cartel and Money Launderers Linked to Chinese Underground Banking
Tuesday, June 18, 2024

For Immediate Release
Office of Public Affairs

China and Mexico Took Law Enforcement Actions Following Justice Department’s Investigation of Alleged Scheme to Violate U.S. Drug and Money-Laundering Laws

The Justice Department today announced a 10-count superseding indictment charging Los Angeles-based associates of Mexico’s Sinaloa drug cartel with conspiring with money-laundering groups linked to Chinese underground banking to launder drug trafficking proceeds. During the conspiracy, more than $50 million in drug proceeds flowed between the Sinaloa Cartel associates and Chinese underground money exchanges.

Following close coordination with the Justice Department, Chinese and Mexican law enforcement informed United States authorities that those countries recently arrested fugitives named in the superseding indictment who fled the United States after they were initially charged last year.

The multi-year investigation into this conspiracy—dubbed “Operation Fortune Runner”—resulted in a superseding indictment returned on April 4 and unsealed on Monday charging a total of 24 defendants with one count of conspiracy to aid and abet the distribution of cocaine and methamphetamine, one count of conspiracy to launder monetary instruments, and one count of conspiracy to operate an unlicensed money transmitting business.

The superseding indictment alleges that a Sinaloa Cartel-linked money laundering network collected and, with help from a San Gabriel Valley, California-based money transmitting group with links to Chinese underground banking, processed large amounts of drug proceeds in U.S. currency in the Los Angeles area. They then allegedly concealed their drug trafficking proceeds and made the proceeds generated in the United States accessible to cartel members in Mexico and elsewhere.

Lead defendant Edgar Joel Martinez-Reyes, 45, of East Los Angeles, and others allegedly used a variety of methods to hide the money’s source, including trade-based money laundering, “structuring” assets to avoid federal financial reporting requirements, and the purchase of cryptocurrency.

Twenty of the individuals charged in the superseding indictment are expected to be arraigned in the U.S. District Court in downtown Los Angeles in the coming weeks, including one who was arraigned on Monday.

“Dangerous drugs like fentanyl and methamphetamine are destroying people’s lives but drug traffickers only care about their profits,” said U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada for the Central District of California. “To protect our community, therefore, it is essential that we go after the sophisticated, international criminal syndicates that launder the drug money. As this indictment and our international actions show, we will be dogged in our pursuit of all those who facilitate destruction in our country and make sure they are held accountable for their actions.”

“Relentless greed, the pursuit of money, is what drives the Mexican drug cartels that are responsible for the worst drug crisis in American history,” said DEA Administrator Anne Milgram. “This DEA investigation uncovered a partnership between Sinaloa Cartel associates and a Chinese criminal syndicate operating in Los Angeles and China to launder drug money. Laundering drug money gives the Sinaloa Cartel the means to produce and import their deadly poison into the United States. DEA’s top operational priority is to save American lives by defeating the cartels and those that support their operations. This investigation is the latest example, and there is more to come.”

“Drug traffickers generate immense amounts of cash through their illicit operations. This case is a prime example of Chinese money launderers working hand in hand with drug traffickers to try to legitimize profits generated by drug activities,” said Chief Guy Ficco of IRS Criminal Investigation. “We have made it a priority to identify, disrupt, and dismantle any money launderers working with drug cartels and we are committed to our partnerships with federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to combat drug cartels and those who assist them in laundering drug proceeds.”

As part of this investigation, law enforcement has seized approximately $5 million in narcotics proceeds, 302 pounds of cocaine, 92 pounds of methamphetamine, 3,000 Ecstasy pills, 44 pounds of psilocybin (magic mushrooms), numerous ounces of ketamine, three semi-automatic rifles with high-capacity magazines, and eight semi-automatic handguns.

Background

The Sinaloa Cartel is largely responsible for the massive influx of fentanyl into the United States over the past approximately eight years, and for the accompanying violence and deaths that have afflicted communities on both sides of the border. The cartel’s activities generate enormous sums of U.S. currency in the United States that belong to the cartel in Mexico. Profits from the drug trade must be repatriated to Mexico for use by the cartel.

Chinese underground money exchanges in the United States assist the Sinaloa and other cartels to move their profits from the United States to Mexico by providing a ready market for U.S. currency in the United States.

Many wealthy Chinese nationals who live, work, or invest in China wish to transfer assets to the United States for various reasons but are barred by the Chinese government’s capital flight restrictions from transferring the equivalent of more than $50,000 per year out of China. These individuals seek informal alternatives to the conventional banking system to move their funds.

To transfer money to the United States, the China-based investor contacts an individual who has U.S. dollars available to sell in the United States. The seller of U.S. dollars provides identifying information for a bank account in China with instructions for the investor to deposit Chinese currency (renminbi) in that account. Once the owner of the account sees the deposit, an equivalent amount of U.S. dollars is released to the buyer in the United States.

The sellers of U.S. currency in the United States obtain dollars in a variety of ways. Some of them accept cash from individuals engaged in criminal activity that generates large amounts of bulk currency, including drug trafficking. These U.S. currency brokers charge a percentage commission as a fee to the owner of the criminal proceeds to conceal the nature and source of the funds—typically far less for their services than their competitors. Drug traffickers increasingly have partnered with Chinese underground money exchanges to take advantage of the large demand for U.S. dollars from Chinese nationals.

The funds that are transferred in China are then used to pay for goods purchased by businesses and organizations in Mexico or elsewhere such as consumer goods or items needed to aid the drug trafficking organization to manufacture illegal drugs, such as precursor chemicals, including fentanyl.

The Superseding Indictment

According to the superseding indictment, from October 2019 to October 2023, members and operatives of the Sinaloa Cartel imported large quantities of narcotics, including fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine, into the United States, generating huge sums of drug cash proceeds in U.S. dollars.

In January 2021, Martinez-Reyes allegedly traveled to Mexico to meet with Sinaloa Cartel members to strike a deal with money remitters with links to Chinse underground banking to launder drug trafficking proceeds in the United States. After the deal was struck, the Sinaloa Cartel—through their connections and associates—distributed cocaine, methamphetamine, and other narcotics, generating U.S. dollars as drug proceeds.

Martinez-Reyes and other conspirators allegedly then delivered the currency—frequently in amounts of hundreds of thousands of U.S. dollars in cash—to other members of the Chinese underground money exchange and remitting organizations to be laundered for a fee. The remitting organizations possessed large amounts of U.S. currency and could help wealthy Chinese nationals evade China’s currency controls.

The money remitters allegedly disposed of the drug proceeds by either delivering United States currency directly to their money exchange customers or by purchasing real or personal property, including luxury goods and cars to be shipped to China. Additionally, the remitters also moved illicit drug proceeds through cryptocurrency transactions. They also allegedly used a variety of traditional methods to place the funds into the traditional banking system such as purchasing cashier’s checks, or “structuring,” that is, depositing small amounts at a time into bank accounts opened for this purpose to avoid banks from reporting large cash deposits to the U.S. government.

The remaining seven counts charge individual defendants with crimes such as possession of pound quantities of cocaine and methamphetamine, structuring funds to avoid federal reporting requirements placed on banks, and one count of assault with a deadly weapon on a federal officer.

If convicted of all charges, each defendant faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison and a maximum penalty of life in prison.

The DEA, IRS Criminal Investigation, South Gate Police Department, Downey Police Department, Glendora Police Department, Fullerton Police Department, and El Monte Police Department are investigating the case, with valuable assistance from the FBI and U.S. Marshals Service.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie J. Shemitz for the Central District of California is prosecuting the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and Criminal Division’s Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section’s Special Operations Unit assisted with the investigation and overseas coordination in the case.

This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

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Sinaloa drug cartel laundered millions through Chinese network in L.A., prosecutors say

With millions in cash piling up in the United States, the Sinaloa cartel needed to funnel proceeds from the sale of fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine back to Mexico.

Federal prosecutors say a ring of Chinese nationals in the San Gabriel Valley offered a solution: marrying the Sinaloans’ glut of bulk cash in Greater Los Angeles with a demand from wealthy residents of China to transfer their money to the United States.

U.S. Atty. E. Martin Estrada announced Tuesday that a grand jury has charged 24 defendants — drug traffickers, couriers, bagmen and brokers — with conspiring to distribute drugs, money laundering and operating an unlicensed money-transmitting business.

The indictment described a straightforward system to transfer wealth out of China. The Chinese government has restricted the flow of assets out of the country, creating an underground market for U.S. dollars that drug traffickers need to transfer back to Mexico without using conventional banking systems.

Chinese nationals are generally restricted from moving more than $50,000 a year out of the country’s financial system. In the money laundering system, prosecutors say, someone seeking to make a large transfer would contact a broker in California. The broker would then arrange for drug profits to be delivered to the Chinese national’s representative in the United States, usually in bulk cash or a series of “structured” deposits small enough to avoid triggering anti-money-laundering controls.

At the broker’s direction, the Chinese national would transfer money to a manufacturer in China that produced either consumer goods, such as electronics and clothing, or chemicals used to make synthetic drugs, Estrada said.

Shipped to Mexico, the consumer goods would be sold and the money turned over to a cartel representative, returning the value of the drug dollars purchased by the Chinese national to the cartel in pesos.

The chemicals, on the other hand, would be used to produce drugs such as fentanyl and methamphetamine in Mexico for sale in the United States, triggering the cycle again, Estrada said.

Prosecutors allege the leaders of the money laundering ring, Edgar Joel Martinez-Reyes and Peiji Tong, traveled to Mexico to strike a partnership with the Sinaloa cartel in 2021. The men were photographed together in a car at the San Ysidro border crossing, returning from what authorities said was the cartel meeting.

Martinez-Reyes’ attorney didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. No lawyer was listed for Tong in court records.

According to the indictment, hundreds of thousands of dollars in drug money changed hands at a time, packaged in shopping and duffel bags, satchels, backpacks and tin foil-wrapped packages. Agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration watched the handoffs at Parkwest Bicycle Casino in Bell Gardens, an office complex in Downey and a town house in Temple City.

One alleged courier is charged with assaulting a federal officer after he smashed his Lexus ES350 into the officer’s car, trying to flee with $598,000 in vacuum-sealed bills inside his sedan, the indictment says.

Estrada said the ring laundered more than $50 million in drug money over several years. Anne Milgram, administrator of the DEA, said the Sinaloans embraced the San Gabriel Valley-based organization because it charged a commission of 0.5% to 2% of the laundered cash, compared with the 5% to 10% fee collected by traditional money laundering networks.

Milgram said the San Gabriel Valley ring also collected a commission from the wealthy Chinese nationals who purchased dollars from the Sinaloa cartel.

These Chinese nationals wanted to move their money into California to buy real estate, pay tuition and make investments in the U.S. financial system, Estrada said.

Prosecutors had “no direct evidence” the Chinese nationals knew they were buying the profits of fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine sales, Estrada said, but anyone who uses an underground banking system dealing in bulk cash “should be suspicious about where that money is coming from.”

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11華人涉為墨國毒販洗錢 不法所得逾5000萬 24嫌被收押

聯邦司法部（DOJ）加州中區檢察官辦公室，18日起訴墨西哥錫那羅亞販毒卡特爾（Sinaloa drug cartel）駐洛杉磯的同夥，以及與中國地下錢莊有關連的洗錢組織共24名犯罪嫌疑人，並揭露了該販毒洗錢網路，所涉毒品收入超過5000萬美元。這次國際行動被稱為「財富競跑者行動」（Operation Fortune Runner），在中國與墨西哥執法部門的配合下，目前24名被告已全被收押，其中包括11名華人。

檢察長艾斯特拉達（Martin Estrada）指出，墨西哥販毒集團急於將在美國販毒所得運回墨西哥；同時，中國洗錢組織幫助想要避開每年每人5萬美元的現金流動管制、以及在美國獲取現金的富人。本案主嫌Edgar Joel Martinez-Reyes在大洛杉磯地區管理一個洗錢集團，並與中國公民、洗錢網絡頭目PJ Tong與墨西哥「錫那羅亞販毒集團」(Sinaloa drug cartel )成員會面，談洗錢合約。其運作方式是，中國人把人民幣匯入中國洗錢組織的指定帳戶，在美國兌換美元購買房、車等奢侈品；中國洗錢組織提供的美元則是來自墨西哥毒犯所得，而收到的人民幣則用於從中國購買商品、製毒所需的化學品（precursor chemicals）運去墨西哥。

聯邦緝毒局（DEA）局長米爾格拉姆（Anne Milgram）感謝中國和墨西哥的執法機構。自去年11月拜登總統與習近平主席會面以來，他們與中國公安部多次接觸，她本人也曾作為國安會（NSC）代表前往北京。她還指出，與傳統洗錢組織收取5%-10%佣金不同，中國洗錢組織僅向錫那羅亞販毒集團收取1%-2%。但同時，那些想要把錢帶出中國的中國富人，則需要向洗錢組織支付4%。

11名華人被告為Peiji Tong（即上文的PJ Tong，又稱Dr. P或Po）、 Sai Zhang（Tommy）、Chengwu He（Ocean）、Panyu Zhao、Hang Su、Jiayong Yu（Haoran Feng）、Xiaolei Ye、Xuanyi Mu、Shou Yang（Chaoming Cheng）、Jiaxuan He（Edward）以及Jiande Zhou。20名被告將在未來幾周內於洛杉磯市中心的地方法院受審，其中一人已於周一受審。起訴書共提出包括協助及教唆販運可卡因和甲基安非他命（冰毒）、洗錢在內10項指控。如果所有指控成立，每個被告將面臨最低10年、最高終身監禁。

執法部門目前查獲了約500萬美元的毒資、302磅可卡因、92磅甲基安非他命、3000粒搖頭丸、44磅裸蓋菇素（迷幻蘑菇）、大量盎司的氯胺酮（俗稱K粉）、3支配有大容量彈匣的半自動步槍和8支半自動手槍。

(NYPD 109th Precinct,serving the residents of northeast portion of Queens, including Downtown Flushing, East Flushing, Queensboro Hill, College Point, Malba, Whitestone, Beechhurst, and Bay Terrace.)
(纽约警察局第 109 分局,该分局为皇后区东北部的居民提供服务，包括法拉盛市中心、东法拉盛、皇后区山、大学点、马尔巴、白石、比奇赫斯特和湾露台。)

NYPD 109th Precinct
6/10/24
WANTED for ROBBERY
Social Media Robbery, 5/27/24, the victim agreed to exchange $7K for Chinese currency via the WeChat. The victim met the pictured female Asian on 139 St, handed her the cash & two unknown males assaulted the victim.
Have info? 1-800-577-TIPS

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近日一名华男通过微信来换汇，把7,000美元兑换成人民币，但他到位于法拉盛的约好地点，把钱交给对方时，两名男子冲出殴打他，抢走他的钱，三人逃走。

警方称，受害人将7,000美元交给了这名女性嫌犯。（109分局提供）

根据市警局109分局X平台，2024年5月27日，受害者通过微信将7000美元兑换成人民币，他在法拉盛139街与一位亚裔女性碰面，将7,000美元现金交给她，但这名女性没有给他人民币，而且有两名男性冲出来袭击了他。

109分局局长科尔曼（Kevin Coleman）5月29日在纽约市警察局于法拉盛召开的预防犯罪会议上表示，类似以换汇为由实施犯罪的案件近期发生了多起，受害人都是通过网上找到的声称可换汇的人。

科尔曼说，受害人要回中国，需要要兑换人民币，在网上找到声称做这种换汇生意的人，谁知当把美元给了对方后，对方就消失了。他建议如果要换汇的话，应该到银行或合法的机构。

109分局公布5月27日参与抢劫的女性嫌犯照片，呼吁民众提供破案线索。知情者请拨打止罪热线：1-800-577-8477。

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微信換匯變搶劫 法拉盛男失7000元 109分局長：已多起

法拉盛近日發生一起搶劫案，一名男子攜帶7000美元現金打算在微信上換人民幣時被三人搶劫，警方9日發布其中一名嫌犯的作案照片，呼籲知情民眾提供線索。

根據市警局報告，5月27日(周一)約中午12時左右，一名27歲男子在法拉盛39大道138-23號建築後方，與另兩名男子及一名女子碰頭，計畫通過微信轉帳，把他身上攜帶的美金換成人民幣。當男子把7000美元現金給碰頭的女子時，另兩名男子拳打這名男子，強行取走這7000元後三人逃逸。男子隨後報警並拒絕在現場就醫。

此前在4月23日，也有一名23歲華人女子在法拉盛138街37-01號在線下換匯過程中，被對方搶去3萬元。管轄法拉盛的市警109分局局長副督察科爾曼(Kevin Coleman)表示，法拉盛轄區近期已有數名因換匯而被騙的受害者，這些受害者計畫回中國，在網上約人並在線下以美元兌換人民幣而被詐騙。他建議民眾盡量去銀行或正規的換匯機構處換匯。

警方表示，上述案件仍在調查之中，三嫌人在逃，呼籲知情民眾提供線索，民眾可立刻撥打止罪熱線(800)577-TIPS(8477)，也可登錄止罪網站www.nypdcrimestopper.com，或透過手機發消息至 274637(CRIMES)，然後輸入TIP577，或在推特上@NYPDTips，還可透過止罪手機應用程序「CS-NYC」提供線索，消息來源絕對保密。

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“假换取，真抢劫”的案子在华人社区已经发生多次，侨报记者上周收到一名王姓受害者爆料，称她在微信群中认识一位陌生人，双方谈好用等价美金换人民币，且对方给出的汇率让她很满意，就约着在北方大道一家咖啡厅中换钱，不料身上携带的2万元被对方抢走。

王女士说自己来美国时间不长，赚的辛苦钱，想换回去孝敬家中老人，谁知竟然被抢，自己英文又不好，也没身份，所以没有报警，只是回家后哭了大半夜。

警方表示，与通过社群媒体认识的陌生人进行钱财交易，都存有安全隐患，要特别提高警惕；如果必须当面交易，也应选择在白天且人多的公共场所，最好有家人或朋友陪同；若对方要求进入其车内交易，应果断拒绝；一旦发现任何可疑现象，立即停止交易并报警。

Terrylle Blackstone: Guilty Plea Reveals $15 Million Fraud Scheme Targeting Homeowners
June 10, 2024

In a major legal development, Terrylle Blackstone, a 36-year-old resident of Woodbridge, Virginia, has admitted his guilt in a large-scale fraud scheme that targeted distressed homeowners throughout the United States. The scheme, which promised legal assistance to homeowners facing foreclosure, swindled victims out of at least $15 million without providing any legitimate legal services. The plea was taken in U.S. District Court, a critical step toward at-last securing justice for the victims.

The Fraudulent Operation Orchestrated by Terrylle Blackstone

Terrylle Blackstone’s guilty plea reveals a complex and extensive conspiracy involving multiple co-conspirators, including David Maresca of Virginia, attorney Scott Marinelli of New Jersey, and attorney Sam Babbs of Florida. The operation initially operated under the name Synergy Law, and later, Themis Law. Both entities falsely presented themselves as reputable law firms capable of helping homeowners avoid foreclosure.

From January 2018 until February 2021, Blackstone and his co-conspirators used various forms of advertising, including telephone, television, and the internet, to market their fraudulent services. They claimed to run a “national law firm” based in Washington, D.C., with attorneys who would review homeowners’ files, provide legal representation, and, if necessary, assist in filing for bankruptcy.

Deceptive Practices and False Promises by Terrylle Blackstone and Co-Conspirators

Homeowners were assured that an attorney in their local area would be assigned to their case, providing personalized and expert legal assistance. These promises, however, were nothing more than elaborate lies designed to extract money from vulnerable individuals. The conspirators required homeowners to pay an initial retainer fee, followed by monthly payments, supposedly for ongoing legal services.

Despite the elaborate facade, Synergy Law and Themis Law never had attorneys review clients’ files, contact lenders, or provide any genuine legal representation. Even after Marinelli’s incarceration in early 2019, the fraudulent operation continued unabated, with Blackstone and the other conspirators collecting monthly payments without delivering any services.

Continued Deception Under Themis Law

After Marinelli’s incarceration, the scheme continued under the name Themis Law. Operating from a call center in Manassas, Virginia, Themis Law employees used scripted calls to reassure homeowners that they would receive comprehensive legal help. They falsely claimed that an attorney would review their case file and negotiate with lenders, citing knowledge of lenders’ internal guidelines for mortgage resolutions.

When homeowners faced imminent foreclosure, Themis Law advised them to consider bankruptcy and referred them to Babbs at Babbs Law Firm. This referral process involved signing new retainer agreements and paying additional fees, further defrauding the distressed homeowners.

Financial Gains and Legal Consequences

During his tenure with Synergy Law and Themis Law, Terrylle Blackstone personally received at least $163,199.30 in direct payments. However, the total amount defrauded from homeowners exceeded $15 million, highlighting the extensive reach and impact of the fraudulent scheme.

Blackstone’s guilty plea to conspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud brings him closer to facing the legal consequences of his actions. U.S. District Court Judge Randolph D. Moss, who accepted Blackstone’s plea, has set the sentencing date for October 3, 2024. The court will decide on an appropriate sentence after reviewing the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and considering various statutory factors. Additionally, the United States will seek a forfeiture money judgment against Blackstone for an amount not less than $163,199.30.

Investigation and Prosecution

The case is being investigated by the FBI Washington Field Office and the Washington, D.C. Field Office of the Internal Revenue Service—Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI). These agencies played a crucial role in uncovering the fraudulent activities and bringing the perpetrators to justice.

Assistant United States Attorney John Borchert is prosecuting the case, ensuring that those responsible for the scheme are held accountable for their actions. This case serves as a reminder of the importance of vigilance and due diligence, especially when dealing with entities promising financial or legal assistance.

Terrylle Blackstone’s guilty plea marks a significant victory in the fight against fraud and corruption. The extensive scheme orchestrated by Blackstone and his co-conspirators exploited vulnerable homeowners during their times of greatest need, causing significant financial and emotional distress. As the legal process continues, this case highlights the critical need for regulatory oversight and robust enforcement to protect consumers from similar fraudulent schemes in the future.

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PRESS RELEASE
Virginia Man Pleads Guilty in Fake Law Firm Scheme that Defrauded Distressed Homeowners Out of $15 Million
Thursday, June 6, 2024

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Columbia

WASHINGTON – Terrylle Blackstone, 36, of Woodbridge, Virginia, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in a conspiracy that fraudulently promised thousands of homeowners across the U.S. legal help in avoiding foreclosure. The scheme generated at least $15 million for the conspirators but never provided any legal services to the client-victims.

The plea was announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, Special Agent in Charge David J. Scott of the FBI Washington Field Office Criminal and Cyber Division, and Executive Special Agent in Charge Kareem A. Carter of the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Washington, D.C. Field Office.

Blackstone today pleaded guilty to a count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud before U.S District Court Judge Randolph D. Moss, who scheduled sentencing for October 3, 2024.

According to court documents, when entering his guilty plea, Blackstone admitted that, from January 2018 until February 2021, he worked with codefendants David Maresca of Virginia, attorney Scott Marinelli of New Jersey, and attorney Sam Babbs of Florida. The co-conspirators told homeowners that they operated a “national law firm” based in Washington, D.C.; that attorneys would review the homeowner’s file and provide legal representation to the homeowners; that an attorney in the homeowner’s local area would be assigned to assist them; that the homeowner could meet and consult with those attorneys about the case; and that attorneys in their law firm could help the homeowner, if necessary, file for bankruptcy.

Blackstone further admitted that, from 2016 until 2019, the conspirators marketed Synergy Law with telephone, television, and internet advertising which told homeowners that attorneys at Maresca and Marinelli’s Synergy Law in Manassas could help them avoid foreclosure. In early 2019, Marinelli was incarcerated in Pennsylvania. Yet Blackstone, Maresca, Marinelli, and others continued to operate Synergy and collect monthly payments purportedly for legal services. During this time, there was no attorney who was a member of Synergy who could practice law. Synergy never had attorneys review all homeowner files and Synergy never had attorneys contact a client’s lender to discuss a mortgage resolution. They also continued to use the interstate wires to operate their “law firm” in ways that were essential to the scheme, such as soliciting clients by telephone.

And Blackstone admitted that, from 2019 until at least 2022, the conspirators marketed another firm, Themis Law, with television and website advertising which told homeowners that attorneys with Themis could help them avoid foreclosure. Themis operated a call center at an office in Manassas, Virginia. Call center workers used scripts during their phone calls with homeowners in which Themis falsely promised that an attorney would review the homeowner’s case file; that this attorney knew their lender’s “internal guidelines” for a “mortgage resolution”; and that an assigned “legal team” would contact the homeowner’s lender to negotiate a resolution. Themis required homeowner-clients to pay an initial retainer amount followed by a monthly recurring amount for as long as the firm represented the homeowner. Themis Law never provided legal services to the homeowner-clients. When Themis clients faced imminent foreclosure, Themis advised those clients to consider filing for bankruptcy to save their home and referred the clients to Babbs at Babbs Law Firm. Those clients then signed a new retainer agreement and paid additional fees to Babbs.

During his dates of employment at Synergy Law and Themis Law, Blackstone received no less than $163,199.30 in direct payments from the companies.

A federal district court judge will determine any sentence for Blackstone after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. In addition, the United States also will seek a forfeiture money judgment against him for an amount not less than $163,199.30

This case was investigated by the FBI Washington Field Office and the Washington, D.C. Field Office of the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations.

It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney John Borchert.

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IRS Press Releases
Two lawyers and two others charged in conspiracy that defrauded distressed homeowners looking for help
Date: May 3, 2023

An indictment was unsealed today charging four people, including two lawyers, with conspiring to defraud thousands of distressed homeowners who thought they were hiring a legal firm to help them avoid foreclosure. The defendants, some of whom were licensed to practice law in Washington, D.C., New Jersey, and Florida, allegedly reaped millions of dollars in ill-gotten gains.

The indictment charges: David Maresca, of Manassas, Virginia, Scott Marinelli, of Mountainside, New Jersey, Sam Babbs, III, of Orlando, Florida, and Terrylle Blackstone, of Woodbridge, Virginia, with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and mail fraud for charging clients on the false and fraudulent promise to help them avoid foreclosure but never providing any of those legal services. The indictment further charges Maresca, Marinelli, and Blackstone with five counts of mail fraud; Maresca, Babbs, and Blackstone with three counts of wire fraud and two counts of mail fraud; and Maresca with five counts of monetary transactions in criminally derived property, and two counts of falsification of bankruptcy records. Maresca was arrested today and made an initial appearance in Washington, D.C.; Marinelli was arrested today and made an initial appearance in New Jersey.

The charges were announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, Acting Special Agent in Charge Kareem A. Carter of the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation (“IRS-CI”) Washington, D.C. Field Office, and Special Agent in Charge Wayne A. Jacobs, of the FBI Washington Field Office Criminal and Cyber Division.

Maresca formed Synergy Law LLC (“Synergy”), in Washington DC, in 2016, and Themis Law PLLC (“Themis”) in 2019. Marinelli, who was licensed in New Jersey, owned 10 percent of Synergy; Babbs, who was licensed in Florida and D.C., owned his own firm – Babbs Law Firm P.L. (“Babbs”) – and 10 percent of Themis. Blackstone worked for all three firms.

According to the indictment, the scheme involved marketing Synergy Law and Themis Law through telephone, television, and Internet advertising which told homeowners that attorneys could help them avoid foreclosure. The defendants, through the law firms, operated call centers, where workers used scripts during calls with homeowners falsely promising that an attorney would review the homeowner’s case file; that this attorney knew their lender’s “internal guidelines,” for a “mortgage resolution”; and that an assigned “legal team” would contact the homeowner’s lender to negotiate a resolution.

The conspirators knew these representations were false and fraudulent. Synergy Law and Themis Law never operated a “national law firm,” and never provided legal services to homeowners. Neither Synergy Law nor Themis Law had attorneys review homeowner files, and neither Synergy Law nor Themis Law had attorneys contact a client’s lender to discuss a mortgage resolution. The homeowners signed agreements in which the law firms promised to provide “legal representation,” “attorney services” and “legal services” to the homeowner-client. Synergy Law required homeowner-clients to pay an initial retainer amount (often between $995 and $1,750), followed by a monthly recurring amount (often between $595 and $1,200), for as long as Synergy Law represented the homeowner. Once victim funds were in that account, Maresca, Marinelli, and Blackstone used the funds for their personal benefit, and continued to collect monthly payments from the clients. When the clients faced imminent foreclosure, Synergy Law provided non-legal bankruptcy petition preparation services and directed clients to file pro se bankruptcy petitions to stop foreclosure. Synergy Law directed clients not to disclose that the clients had worked with Synergy Law to prepare their bankruptcy petition. Themis Law clients, who were considering filing for bankruptcy to save their homes, were referred to Babbs Law where they signed a new retainer agreement and paid additional fees.

When bankruptcy judges, Synergy Law clients, and the U.S. Trustee’s Program raised concerns about Synergy Law’s practices in bankruptcy matters, Blackstone attended court hearings on behalf of Synergy Law and made false statements to the court about Synergy Law’s operations. When Marinelli’s law license was suspended in New Jersey in 2017, and the District of Columbia in 2018, Maresca, Marinelli, and Blackstone continued to operate Synergy Law and collect monthly payments purportedly for legal services.

Maresca is also charged with falsely filing for bankruptcy on behalf of Synergy Law. According to the indictment, in answering a question on the bankruptcy forms about financial affairs, which required Synergy Law LLC to list transfers of money or other property that was not in the ordinary course of business, Maresca falsely stated “None,” when he knew he had withdrawn S315,083.42 from Synergy Law accounts to purchase his personal residence.

The indictment includes a notice of forfeiture for all illegally derived proceeds from the fraud scheme.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office and the FBI urge anyone who did business with these law firms, and who think they were defrauded, to visit the U.S. Attorney’s Office Mortgage Fraud page and/or call the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI.

This case was investigated by the Washington, D.C. Field Office of the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations and the FBI Washington Field Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney John Borchert.

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Terrylle Blackstone：认罪揭露针对房主的 1500 万美元欺诈计划
2024.6.10

在一项重大法律进展中，弗吉尼亚州伍德布里奇 36 岁的居民 Terrylle Blackstone 承认了自己犯下一项大规模诈骗案，该案针对的是全美陷入困境的房主。该案承诺为面临丧失抵押品赎回权的房主提供法律援助，但却从受害者那里骗取了至少 1500 万美元，却没有提供任何合法的法律服务。该认罪在美国地方法院进行，这是最终为受害者伸张正义的关键一步。

特里尔·布莱克斯通策划的欺诈行动

特里尔·布莱克斯通的认罪揭露了一个复杂而广泛的阴谋，涉及多名同谋，包括弗吉尼亚州的戴维·马雷斯卡、新泽西州的律师斯科特·马里内利和佛罗里达州的律师山姆·巴布斯。该机构最初以 Synergy Law 的名义运作，后来改名为 Themis Law。这两个实体都谎称自己是信誉良好的律师事务所，能够帮助房主避免丧失抵押品赎回权。

从 2018 年 1 月到 2021 年 2 月，布莱克斯通和他的同伙利用电话、电视和互联网等各种形式的广告来推销他们的欺诈服务。他们声称自己经营着一家总部位于华盛顿特区的“全国性律师事务所”，其律师会审查房主的档案、提供法律代理，并在必要时协助申请破产。

Terrylle Blackstone 及其同谋的欺骗行为和虚假承诺

房主们得到保证，当地会指派一名律师处理他们的案件，提供个性化和专业的法律援助。然而，这些承诺不过是精心编造的谎言，目的是从弱势群体身上榨取金钱。合谋者要求房主支付初始聘用费，然后每月支付，据说是为了获得持续的法律服务。

尽管表面看起来十分复杂，但 Synergy Law 和 Themis Law 从未让律师审查客户文件、联系贷方或提供任何真正的法律代理。即使在 2019 年初 Marinelli 入狱后，欺诈行为仍在继续，Blackstone 和其他合谋者每月收取费用，却不提供任何服务。

忒弥斯法下的持续欺骗

在马里内利入狱后，该骗局以 Themis Law 的名义继续进行。Themis Law 的员工在弗吉尼亚州马纳萨斯的一个呼叫中心工作，他们通过脚本通话向房主保证他们将获得全面的法律帮助。他们谎称律师将审查他们的案件档案并与贷方进行谈判，理由是他们了解贷方关于抵押贷款解决方案的内部指导方针。

当房主面临即将丧失抵押品赎回权时，Themis Law 建议他们考虑破产，并将他们介绍给 Babbs 律师事务所的 Babbs。此转介过程涉及签署新的聘用协议并支付额外费用，进一步欺骗陷入困境的房主。

经济收益和法律后果

在 Synergy Law 和 Themis Law 任职期间，Terrylle Blackstone 个人至少收到过 163,199.30 美元的直接付款。然而，从房主那里骗取的总金额超过 1500 万美元，凸显了欺诈计划的广泛影响。

布莱克斯通对串谋实施邮件欺诈和电信欺诈的认罪使他更接近面对其行为的法律后果。接受了布莱克斯通认罪的美国地方法院法官兰道夫·D·莫斯将宣判日期定为 2024 年 10 月 3 日。法院将在审查美国量刑指南并考虑各种法定因素后决定适当的刑罚。此外，美国将寻求对布莱克斯通作出不低于 163,199.30 美元的没收金钱判决。

调查和起诉

该案件由联邦调查局华盛顿办事处和华盛顿特区国税局刑事调查处 (IRS-CI) 办事处负责调查。这些机构在揭露欺诈活动和将肇事者绳之以法方面发挥了关键作用。

美国助理检察官约翰·博切特 (John Borchert) 正在起诉此案，确保对该计划负责的人对其行为负责。此案提醒人们警惕和尽职调查的重要性，尤其是在与承诺提供财务或法律援助的实体打交道时。

特里尔·布莱克斯通的认罪标志着打击欺诈和腐败的重大胜利。布莱克斯通及其同谋策划的大规模骗局在房主最需要帮助的时候利用了他们，给他们造成了巨大的经济和精神困扰。随着法律程序的继续，此案凸显了监管监督和强力执法的迫切需要，以保护消费者免受未来类似的欺诈行为的侵害。

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弗吉尼亚州男子承认犯有虚假律师事务所诈骗案，骗取陷入困境的房主 1500 万美元
2024.6.6

弗吉尼亚州伍德布里奇 36 岁的 Terrylle Blackstone 今天在美国地方法院认罪，他策划欺骗性地承诺为全美数千名房主提供法律帮助，以避免丧失抵押品赎回权。该计划为共谋者带来了至少 1500 万美元，但从未向客户受害者提供任何法律服务。