EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – A Federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment charging a Chinese national for allegedly participating in an imposter scam and trying to defraud a Belleville senior out of more than $70,000.
Zhigang Lian, 42, a Chinese national and lawful resident of La Puente, California, was charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of wire fraud.
“Federal authorities will never call to demand your personal or financial information over the phone, notify you that you’re a victim of identity theft, ask you to send cryptocurrency or travel to your home to pick up money,” said U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft. “Scammers are preying on vulnerable victims through imposter scams, but the U.S. Attorney’s Office is using its full legal authority to hold offenders accountable.”
According to court documents, Lian is accused of defrauding a 76-year-old Belleville resident. On June 13, the victim received a scam text message purporting to be from Apple and explaining a transaction was detected for $258. The victim called to dispute the transaction and began speaking with the scammers.
“Criminal fraudsters are constantly devising new schemes aimed at intimidating innocent, often elderly, victims and scaring them into parting with their hard-earned money. If someone randomly contacts you and asks for money, do not give it to them and contact the proper authorities if they are persistent,” Acting Resident Agent in Charge David Bolin, of the U.S. Secret Service – Springfield Resident Office said. “Thank you to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Metropolitan Enforcement Group Special Investigations and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Illinois for their work in pursuing this case and protecting unsuspecting victims from financial fraud.”
The scammer referred the victim to the Federal Trade Commission due to a “severe problem,” and the victim began speaking with another member of the conspiracy posing as a Federal agent. The faux agent told the victim their identity had been stolen, and they needed to withdraw all the money from their bank accounts to protect their assets. The victim withdrew $25,000 and handed over to a conspirator on June 17.
“The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is charged with defending the nation’s mail system from illegal use. With the collaborative efforts of our Federal law enforcement partners, Postal Inspectors investigate fraudsters who utilize the U.S. Mail to perpetuate financial schemes to defraud others to enrich themselves. Postal Inspectors seek justice for victims including those most vulnerable,” said Inspector in Charge, Ruth Mendonça, who leads the Chicago Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, which includes the St. Louis Field Office.
Lian is accused of posing as a Federal agent and picking up $45,000 from the victim on July 1. After the cash exchange, officers with the Illinois State Police took Lian into custody.
An indictment is merely a formal charge against a defendant. Under the law, a defendant is presumed to be innocent of a charge until proved guilty beyond a reasonable doubt to the satisfaction of a jury.
Convictions for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud are punishable by up to 20 years’ imprisonment and fines up to $250,000.
The U.S. Secret Service and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service are contributing to the investigation with support from the Illinois State Police Metropolitan Enforcement Group Special Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Zoe Gross is prosecuting the case.