Immigration agents arrested multiple “dirtbag” Chinese illegal immigrants who were preying on vulnerable elderly New Yorkers, including one who is accused of ripping off a retiree for $42,000.
According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Jian Chen was apprehended on July 8 after reportedly “hatching a scheme” to steal the large cash from a 63-year-old retiree in the village of Potsdam along the St. Lawrence River in northern New York.
He later invited 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 detained in Massena after reportedly attempting to scam an senior couple of $20,000 in savings. He is also wanted in Wyoming County for a similar offense.
“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.
Last October, ICE apprehended Chinese illegal immigrant Hui Chen in Buffalo after the Ticonderoga Police Department tipped them off to his suspected fraud scheme. Chen was charged with grand larceny and conspiracy for 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 presidency, thousands of Chinese illegal immigrants crossed the southern border and gained entry into the United States. Subsequently, the Trump administration launched a massive deportation campaign, focusing specifically on the “worst of the worst” offenders.
