Two men were arrested in Washington, D.C., after allegedly posing as federal agents and attempting to collect more than $200,000 in gold from an 85-year-old man. Police said the suspects appeared at the victim’s home after scammers contacted him by email and telephone. The victim was allegedly told to convert funds into gold bars to protect the money in his bank account. A gold dealer recognized the apparent fraud and alerted authorities before the bars were handed over.
| 1) | Arrests follow alleged home collection attempt |
| 2) | Scammers allegedly impersonated federal agents |
| 3) | Gold purchase raised an alert |
| 4) | Suspects face financial fraud charges |
| 5) | Police and federal investigators coordinated |
Arrests follow alleged home collection attempt
The Metropolitan Police Department said Chu Lin, 50, of Fresh Meadows, New York, and Xiean Cheng, 42, of Cornelius, North Carolina, were arrested after allegedly arriving at the Washington, D.C., residence of an 85-year-old man. Investigators said the men were there to collect gold bars connected to an alleged fraud scheme.
Officers with the department’s Violent Crime Suppression Division made the arrests when the suspects appeared at the home. Police said both men were charged with second-degree financial fraud. The allegations remain accusations, and the arrests followed an investigation into the attempted transfer of the gold.
Scammers allegedly impersonated federal agents
According to police, the scheme began July 8, when individuals contacted the victim first by email and later by telephone. The callers allegedly claimed to be federal agents and told him that funds in his bank account were at risk of being lost unless he took steps to secure them.
The alleged instructions required the victim to withdraw or otherwise secure the money by purchasing gold bars and then turning the bars over to the people involved. The impersonation was intended to make the demand appear official and urgent, police said.
The victim was allegedly told that funds in his bank account were “in jeopardy of being lost” unless he secured the money by purchasing gold bars.
Gold purchase raised an alert
The 85-year-old victim believed the instructions were legitimate and attempted to purchase more than $200,000 worth of gold bars. The transaction did not proceed as planned because the gold dealer recognized signs of an apparent scam.
The dealer alerted the victim and then notified the Metropolitan Police Department’s Financial and Cyber Crimes Unit and the FBI, authorities said. That intervention brought investigators into the case before the suspects allegedly arrived to retrieve the gold.
Suspects face financial fraud charges
Lin and Cheng were each charged with second-degree financial fraud after their arrests. Police identified the alleged victim as an 85-year-old Washington, D.C., man and said the intended loss exceeded $200,000 in gold.
Authorities did not report that the victim surrendered the gold bars. Instead, the dealer’s warning and subsequent law enforcement response appear to have prevented the attempted collection. The case centers on the alleged use of false federal identities to persuade an older adult to transfer valuable property.
Police and federal investigators coordinated
The investigation involved the Metropolitan Police Department and the FBI after the dealer reported the suspected fraud. Local investigators worked with federal agents to identify and respond to the alleged collection attempt.
The arrests occurred when the suspects allegedly went to the victim’s home, allowing police to intervene directly. The case illustrates how a potential warning from a business involved in a high-value transaction can help authorities disrupt an alleged impersonation scheme before the intended property changes hands.
| Number | Key Point |
|---|---|
| 1 | Two men were arrested at an 85-year-old victim’s Washington, D.C., home. |
| 2 | The alleged scammers posed as federal agents and demanded gold. |
| 3 | The victim attempted to purchase more than $200,000 in gold bars. |
| 4 | A gold dealer recognized the suspected fraud and contacted authorities. |
| 5 | Lin and Cheng face second-degree financial fraud charges. |
Summary
Police said a suspected impersonation scheme targeting an elderly Washington, D.C., resident was disrupted after a gold dealer raised an alarm. The alleged plan relied on false claims of federal authority and pressure to convert bank funds into gold. The two men arrested in connection with the attempted collection now face second-degree financial fraud charges.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was arrested?
Chu Lin, 50, of Fresh Meadows, New York, and Xiean Cheng, 42, of Cornelius, North Carolina, were arrested, according to police.
What were the men accused of doing?
They were accused of posing as federal agents and attempting to collect more than $200,000 in gold bars from an 85-year-old Washington, D.C., man.
How was the alleged scam detected?
A gold dealer recognized the apparent scam while the victim was attempting to purchase the gold and alerted the victim and law enforcement.
What charges were filed?
Both suspects were charged with second-degree financial fraud, police said.
