Two men, Xilin Sun and Alexander Charles James, entered guilty pleas in federal court, acknowledging their roles in a scheme that defrauded an elderly Carlsbad resident out of nearly $1.5 million. According to a press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office, Sun pled guilty to money laundering conspiracy, while James admitted to wire fraud conspiracy last Tuesday.
The scam came to light after the victim contacted the Carlsbad police, explaining that she had been convinced by individuals impersonating government officials and other entities to purchase gold bars and send them supposedly for safekeeping. According to public documents, the fraudsters exploited a computer pop-up window that the victim believed was a legitimate tech support alert. The announcement detailed how the victim transferred roughly $1,335,000 over two months to a precious metal dealer, as directed by the scammers, under the pretense that the U.S. Treasury secured the investments.
Federal authorities, including the FBI and members of the San Diego Elder Justice Task Force, set up a sting operation in February 2024 with the cooperation of the victim. It resulted in the capture of James when he met with the victim to collect a supposed final payment of $100,000 in gold bars, and subsequently, Sun, who was found with a false driver's license and cash from another victim. The event was a coordinated effort by multiple law enforcement agencies, showcasing their commitment to protecting vulnerable populations from financial crimes.
Those with information about financial fraud can contribute to the cause by reporting to resources such as the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11 or the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov, the press release suggests. Seniors and their loved ones are urged to remain cautious and report suspicious activity to local enforcement or federal authorities to help prevent further victimization.
