ICE Buffalo warns New Yorkers after arrests of Chinese nationals caught preying on elderly

BUFFALO, N.Y. – U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is warning New York residents to beware after two recent arrests – and a third in the last nine months – of illegally present Chinese nationals attempting to defraud elderly New York residents out of tens of thousands of dollars.

ICE Officers apprehended Jian Chen July 8 after his local arrest for felony grand larceny. Chen hatched a scheme and successfully defrauded a retired 63-year-old woman of $42,000 by fraud and misrepresentation. The illegal alien then sought an additional $98,000 from the same individual and set a plan to meet the victim in the village of Potsdam at a future date. Special Agents with the Homeland Security Investigations Massena office arrested the subject pursuant to a criminal warrant and requested assistance from ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations officers.

On May 29, ICE officers arrested Rihui Yan, another scam artist and illegal alien who was arrested by HSI Massena after he attempted to defraud an elderly couple out of their savings of $20,000. Yan is also wanted in Wyoming County for a similar crime.

Both of these aliens are in ICE custody without bond pending their removal proceedings.

“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 ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Deputy Field Office Director Joseph Freden. “We remain committed to the arrest and removal of aliens who undermine the safety of our communities and the integrity of our laws.”

“This HSI Massena investigation underscores HSI’s commitment to disrupting and dismantling transnational criminal organizations and groups intent on exploiting our vulnerable communities. 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 HSI Buffalo Special Agent in Charge Erin Keegan. “Every day, we are unwaveringly committed to protecting our neighborhoods and individuals’ livelihoods.”

Prior to these two latest incidents, ICE Buffalo arrested Hui Chen Oct. 24, 2024, after a tip from the Ticonderoga Police Department. This criminal alien was taken into custody and charged with grand larceny and conspiracy for attempting to defraud another local elderly resident of approximately $40,000.00. He is currently in custody pending immigration proceedings.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement established the Victims of Immigration Crime Engagement Office to acknowledge and serve the needs of victims and families who have been affected by crimes committed by individuals with a nexus to immigration violations. The VOICE Office serves as a comprehensive support system that provides assistance and resources to individuals victimized by criminal illegal aliens. The VOICE Office is not a tip line, but ICE will accept tips related to immigration and criminal violations here.

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