New York man admits role in gold scam targeting elderly Marion woman
FOX23 News at 9 p.m.
MARION, Ill., (KBSI) — A New York man admits participating in a fraud scheme that cost a 78-year-old Marion woman $318,459, according to federal court documents filed Sept. 24.
Ruoyu Lian, of Flushing, New York, agrees to plead guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud under a plea agreement filed in the Southern District of Illinois.
According to a signed stipulation of facts, members of the scheme contacted elderly victims by computer and telephone, using false claims to persuade them to turn over gold and other assets.
Lian served as a courier.
The Marion woman received a call in April from someone who claimed her computer had been hacked, and her financial accounts were compromised. The caller told her to withdraw money to protect her assets.
Members of the scheme directed her to move approximately $1.8 million from investment accounts into money market accounts so she could purchase gold. She bought and received approximately $800,000 in gold bars on at least two occasions, according to the stipulation.
The woman was told a federal agent would collect the gold and was given a code word to verify the person’s identity.
On June 8, a member of the scheme met her in Marion and collected gold worth $318,459.
The conspirators continued telling her that her accounts were compromised and arranged another pickup. Lian was arrested July 7 at a coordinated meeting location in Marion while attempting to collect what he believed was $272,000.
Lian admitted providing the code word and knowing the money he intended to collect was proceeds from a fraud scheme.
Under the plea agreement, Lian agrees to pay $318,459 in restitution. Each charge carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
The agreement includes an estimated advisory sentencing range of 41 to 51 months. The judge will determine the sentence and is not bound by that estimate.
