ICE Arrests Chinese Immigrants for Scamming Elderly New Yorkers

Immigration agents recently apprehended several Chinese immigrants involved in scams targeting vulnerable elderly New Yorkers, including accusations of swindling retirees out of $42,000.

According to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), a man named Jian Chen was arrested on July 8 after allegedly stealing a significant amount from a 63-year-old retiree in Potsdam, New York, who is believed to have orchestrated the scheme.

Chen later convinced an elderly woman to meet him in her town and hand over another $98,000.

Joseph Freden, Associate Director of ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations, expressed concern about these predatory actions, stating, “We need real dirtbags to prey on our most vulnerable community members by trying to scam them out of our hard-earned savings.”

Another individual, known as “Crashman” Lihui Yang, was detained in Massena for reportedly trying to defraud a senior couple of $20,000 in savings. Yang is also wanted for similar offenses in Wyoming County.

Freden emphasized the agency’s commitment, saying, “We are continuing to commit ourselves to arresting and removing aliens that undermine the safety of our communities and the integrity of the law.”

Last October, ICE arrested Hui Chen in Buffalo, who was charged with grand larceny and conspiracy after attempting to steal $40,000 from an elderly resident.

Erin Keegan, the Buffalo Special Agent for Homeland Security Investigations, remarked, “We never stand dumb while bad actors target their own selfish interests.” She further noted the agency’s dedication to ensuring community safety, stating, “Every day, we are unwaveringly committed to protecting our neighborhood and our individual livelihoods.”

Under the Biden administration, there has been an influx of illegal Chinese immigrants crossing the southern border, while the Trump administration started a significant deportation initiative, focusing specifically on the most dangerous criminals.