An Alabama resident, originally from China, has been arrested for allegedly scamming an elderly American out of her life savings.
Xiahezhati Xiaokelaiti, a 23-year-old who was reportedly in the U.S. on an expired student visa, was taken into custody on Friday. Authorities allege that he swindled nearly $400,000 from the victim in just three weeks.
“The impact on victims like this is life-altering,” said John Barber, the police chief of Fort Spain, Alabama. “This woman had worked hard for her savings, and in a matter of weeks, someone took it all from her.”
Barber expressed frustration, stating, “We already have enough criminals in our nation. There’s no need for others to come here and exploit our citizens.”
Investigators believe the suspect convinced the elderly woman that he was a federal agent from the U.S. Treasury. He manipulated her into converting her cash into gold and giving it to him, making her believe she was following lawful directives.
Her suspicions eventually led her to contact the police, prompting the investigation.
Federal agents have unveiled a broader network of similar scams targeting older Americans, with many of these operations reportedly run by foreign nationals, particularly from India and China, often illegally residing in the U.S. Such fraudulent schemes are described as the “slaughter of pigs,” as they typically target seniors with sizable bank accounts.
In May, eight Chinese nationals were arrested in Rhode Island on charges of defrauding elderly victims, utilizing tactics like impersonating federal law enforcement—similar to the Alabama case.
That same month, three other Chinese individuals were arrested in New York and New Hampshire, accused of orchestrating scams targeting elderly individuals, including schemes involving gift cards.
In related news, members of transnational crime syndicates have received federal prison sentences for various fraudulent activities, such as online romance scams and business email compromises, which have also harmed the elderly.
“For some victims, this was their entire savings, and they may not recover financially,” said Joseph Rothroc, a special agent with the FBI’s Dallas division. “I hope these sentences will bring them some measure of comfort and demonstrate the FBI’s commitment to seeking justice.”
