Two Staten Island Men Indicted For Bilking Elderly Victims Of Nearly $300K
Sunday, December 29, 2024, 11:30 A.M. ET. 2 Minute Read, By Art Fletcher: Englebrook Independent News,
SCRANTON, PA.- On Friday, December 27, 2024, U.S. Attorney Gerard M. Karam reported that on Tuesday, December 17, 2024, a Federal Grand Jury for the Middle District of Pennsylvania returned an indictment against two Staten Island, New York men in connection with a wire fraud scheme that bilked senior citizens out of $288,000.
The indictment charges Sun Tong Lin, 37, and Xueliang Chen, 36, both of Staten Island, New York, on Federal Wire Fraud and Conspiracy Charges.
According To Information Unsealed In The Indictment
According to the charging information unsealed in the indictment, it is alleged that, in June and July 2024, Lin and Chen were part of a scheme to defraud victims by convincing them that their online accounts or bank accounts were not secure.
The conspirators would convince the victims to withdraw a large of cash and hand it over to an agent for safekeeping when, in reality, Lin and Chen were stealing the money. Many of the victims were elderly. In total, the indictment alleges that Lin and Chen stole around $288,000 from at least nine victims and attempted to steal another $50,000 from a victim in Tioga County, Pennsylvania.
If convicted at trial, Lin and Chen could face a maximum of 40 years in federal prison, a term of supervised release, and a fine. A U.S. District Court judge would determine the actual term of imprisonment based on the seriousness of the offenses and Lin and Chen’s prior criminal history, if any.
“The rules of the court require us to include a statement that states: The charges outlined in this publication are merely accusations, and the defendant and or defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt.”
