QUEENS, NY – Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz has announced the arraignment of Fei Liang on charges related to a fraudulent scheme that targeted senior citizens across the United States, defrauding them of $628,278. Liang is alleged to have collaborated with an accomplice who contacted seniors pretending to be from the Social Security Administration, their bank, or a vendor, claiming their accounts were compromised and convincing them to transfer funds for “safekeeping.”
District Attorney Katz emphasized the vulnerability of seniors to such scams, asserting the commitment of her office to prosecute those who exploit the elderly vigorously and to educate the public on safeguarding against such predators. Homeland Security Investigations New York’s Acting Special Agent in Charge Erin Keegan highlighted the exploitation of victims’ insecurities, commending the collaborative effort of law enforcement agencies in arresting Liang and stressing the importance of public vigilance against such scams.
Liang, 39, from Flushing, Queens, faces multiple charges, including six counts of criminal possession of stolen property in the second degree. If convicted, he could face up to 15 years in prison. He is expected back in court on April 10, following Judge Jeffrey Gershuny’s order.