Two men have admitted in federal court that they helped run a scheme that convinced a Carlsbad woman to buy bulk gold and hand it over for supposed safekeeping, prosecutors said. Their guilty pleas cap an FBI sting operation and a months-long barrage of tech-support and government-impersonation calls that investigators say drained almost $1.5 million from the victim.
According to prosecutors, the plan began when a computer pop-up warned the woman that her machine had been hacked and instructed her to call a number that appeared to be a tech-support line. Over roughly two months, she was steered into wiring about $1,335,000 in three transfers to a precious-metal business in San Marcos, then instructed to package and surrender the gold she had purchased for "security," as reported by FOX5 San Diego.
FBI Sting Netted Fake Bars And Cash
When the woman contacted authorities in February 2024, the FBI worked with her to stage a controlled delivery. Surveillance caught one defendant meeting her and taking a package that was believed to contain $100,000 in gold. NBC 7 San Diego reports that the first man then passed the package to a co-conspirator, who was stopped and arrested with fake gold bars, a bogus California driver’s license, and another package holding $12,900 in cash.
Guilty Pleas, Charges And Sentencing
In a press release, the U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of California said 35-year-old Xilin Sun pleaded guilty on Dec. 2 to conspiracy to launder monetary instruments, and 21-year-old Alexander Charles James pleaded guilty on Nov. 25 to conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Both acknowledged in plea agreements that they knowingly took part in an organization running technical support, bank impersonation, and government impersonation scams across the country. They face maximum penalties of up to 20 years and 30 years, respectively. A sentencing hearing for both defendants is set for Feb. 12 before U.S. District Judge Barry Ted Moskowitz.
Where Victims Can Report Scams
If you think you or someone you care for has been targeted, investigators urge you to file a complaint with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at IC3 and call the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11. Keeping records, such as the name of any company involved, the method of contact, bank details, and shipment information, can help speed up the tracing and potential recovery process.
Local officials say the investigation, handled by the San Diego Elder Justice Task Force along with federal and local partners, reflects a broader pattern of elder-targeted scams that combine supposed tech assistance, fake bank outreach, and phony government credentials. Prosecutors say they will seek restitution at sentencing and continue working with law enforcement partners to disrupt the broader networks behind these schemes.
