U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested two Chinese nationals accused of defrauding elderly Americans out of tens of thousands of dollars, authorities announced Tuesday. The suspects, identified as Jian Chen and Rihui Yan, are currently being held without bond pending removal. A third individual, Hui Chen, was previously arrested on similar charges in October 2024, and is also in custody.
In a statement, ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Deputy Field Office Director Joseph Freden remarked, “It takes a real dirtbag to prey on our most vulnerable community members by attempting to swindle them out of their hard-earned savings. We remain committed to the arrest and removal of aliens who undermine the safety of our communities and the integrity of our laws.”
Chen is alleged to have defrauded a 63-year-old woman out of $42,000 and orchestrated schemes to obtain an additional $100,000 in Potsdam, New York. Instead of meeting the victim, he encountered agents from Homeland Security Investigations and ICE Enforcement Removal Operations. Yan, whom ICE labeled a “scam artist and illegal alien,” attempted to defraud an elderly couple in Wyoming County of their life savings of $20,000.
HSI Buffalo Special Agent in Charge Erin Keegan emphasized, “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.”
Authorities have also noted that the fastest-growing group of illegal migrants crossing the southern border is coming from China. Since taking office in January, President Donald Trump has spearheaded a massive removal campaign targeting criminal aliens across the country.