Immigration agents nabbed multiple “dirtbag” Chinese illegal immigrants caught preying upon vulnerable elderly New Yorkers — including one who is accusing of ripping off a retiree for $42,000.
The feds collared Jian Chen on July 8 after he allegedly “hatched a scheme” to steal the huge sum from a 63-year-old retiree in the village of Potsdam near the St. Lawrence River in northern New York, according to Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
He later asked the elderly woman to meet in her town and hand over an additional $98,000.
“It takes a real dirtbag to prey on our most vulnerable community members by attempting to swindle them out of their hard-earned savings,” said Immigration and Customs Enforcement Enforcement and Removal Operations Deputy Field Office Director Joseph Freden.
“Scam artist” Rihui Yan was arrested in Massena after he allegedly tried to defraud a senior couple out of $20,000 of their savings. He is also wanted in Wyoming County for a similar crime.
“We remain committed to the arrest and removal of aliens who undermine the safety of our communities and the integrity of our laws,” said Freden.
ICE also arrested Chinese illegal immigrant Hui Chen last October in Buffalo after getting tipped off by the Ticonderoga Police Department to his alleged fraud scheme. Chen was charged with grand larceny and conspiracy after attempting to steal $40,000 from an elderly New Yorker.
“We will never stand idly by while bad actors – in this case, illegally present Chinese nationals – target innocent New Yorkers for their own selfish gain,” said Homeland Security Investigations Buffalo Special Agent in Charge Erin Keegan.
“Every day, we are unwaveringly committed to protecting our neighborhoods and individuals’ livelihoods,” said Keegan.
Under the Biden administration, thousands of Chinese illegal immigrants flooded across the southern border and were released into the US. The Trump administration has since launched a mass deportation effort — with particular focus on the “worst of the worst” criminals.
