A federal judge in Pennsylvania sentenced three Chinese nationals this month for their roles in a scheme in which couriers went to elderly victims' homes, posed as federal law enforcement officers and took cash they said would be protected, the Justice Department announced. More than 50 victims in 19 states lost more than $10 million.
The scheme began with a computer "pop-up" that falsely told victims their computers or bank accounts had been compromised, according to the release. Couriers then collected the cash in person, and the conspiracy moved it to other members in Los Angeles.
Chief U.S. District Judge Matthew W. Brann handed down the sentences in the Middle District of Pennsylvania over four days:
- Yankun Jiang, 26, of State College, received 84 months on October 22 and was ordered to pay $1,267,122 in restitution. Prosecutors say he started as a courier and became a key supervisor of the couriers, collecting stolen cash from the others, packaging it and coordinating delivery to Los Angeles.
- Lei Bao, 24, of New York, received 30 months on October 20 and was ordered to pay $377,591. She made several cash pick-ups and, on at least five occasions, carried suitcases of stolen cash from Philadelphia to Los Angeles.
- Hanlin Yang, 26, of State College, received 24 months on October 23 and was ordered to pay $400,800. He went to the homes of at least six victims to pick up cash.
Together the three got 138 months. The restitution
