A routine day at the West Covina courthouse turned into a takedown last week when federal agents grabbed 43-year-old Yong Hui Dong outside the building, one of several arrests tied to an ongoing FBI investigation in the Los Angeles area. Another man, Samuel Munoz, was also taken into custody. According to investigators, Dong surfaced in a probe as an alleged courier who picked up cash from elderly scam victims, while Munoz was flagged in a broader narcotics-and-firearms investigation. Federal officials say the arrests came out of a coordinated push with national partners and local law enforcement.
FBI Agents in Los Angeles made multiple arrests last week to include the arrest of Yong Hui Dong, 43, following a successful joint operation with @USMSLosAngeles. Dong had been identified in an FBI investigation as an alleged money mule/courier who picked up cash from elderly https://t.co/mHhSM8MFJj
— FBI Los Angeles (@FBILosAngeles) May 4, 2026
What the FBI says
The FBI's Los Angeles field office said Dong was arrested after agents identified him as an alleged money mule or courier who collected cash from elderly scam victims, and that the takedown followed a joint operation with the U.S. Marshals Service. The post also noted that Dong had appeared in connection with an unrelated felony firearms matter and had prior removal proceedings, and that investigators linked Munoz to a narcotics-and-firearms probe, per FBI Los Angeles.
Money-mule schemes and local patterns
So-called money mules, or couriers who move stolen funds and goods, are a familiar piece of transnational fraud operations that lean on in-person pickups to keep the cash flowing. Federal authorities have mounted recurring "Money Mule Initiative" actions to disrupt those networks. Officials in the Central District of California previously announced a West Covina arrest in April 2024, when a suspect was alleged to have tried to collect cash from elderly phishing victims, a case that highlights the local pattern investigators say they are still working to unravel, per the Justice Department and the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Legal implications
The FBI's social media post lays out arrests and allegations but does not include formal charging documents, so key legal details are still to come. If prosecutors ultimately file federal counts such as wire fraud or money laundering, the defendants could face significant prison time and potential restitution orders. The post also flags immigration histories for the suspects, including prior removal proceedings for Dong and the fact that Munoz lacked immigration status, issues that can trigger separate immigration enforcement alongside any criminal case, per FBI Los Angeles.
What to watch
Next steps to watch for include formal charging papers or a public statement from the U.S. Attorney's Office, plus initial appearances in federal court in downtown Los Angeles. The FBI typically posts case updates on the Los Angeles field office's news page, per FBI Los Angeles. Meanwhile, victims and community members with information on elder-focused scams can turn to federal hotlines and the Justice Department's elder-fraud resources for reporting and support.
