United States of America v. Xiangyang He

Dayton, Ohio, criminal defense lawyer represented the Defendant charged with conspiracy to engage in wire and bank fraud.

Ohio – Xiangyang He, 41, a Chinese national and illegal alien living in Los Angeles, engaged in a fraud scheme that targeted elderly Americans. He personally picked up more than half a million dollars in cash and gold from older victims, including at least one victim in Ohio.

The victims of the scam were usually contacted initially through a message sent to their computer or cell phone or an unsolicited phone call by a person purporting to be an employee or customer service representative from a legitimate business.

A conspirator then directs the victim to contact either a “security official” for the given company or a “government employee” for more information. The conspirators represent to the victim that an IP address, bank account or other account has been compromised, and victim information has been used in some sort of criminal activity for which they are being investigated.

The scheme perpetrators often use fictitious employee identification numbers or names of legitimate government employees. They also tell victims there is a warrant for their arrest or their life savings will be seized.

Finally, elderly victims are instructed to withdraw large amounts of cash or purchase gold bars from online brokers and give the cash or gold to a “government employee” at a specific time and place for purported safe keeping in secure government accounts.

From late February through early April 2024, He flew to at least six different states to pick up approximately 17 packages from victims ages 65 or older. Packages included $35,000 to $73,000 in cash or gold. On April 4, 2024, He traveled to the Southern District of Ohio to retrieve funds from a victim and was subsequently arrested.

The defendant was indicted by a grand jury in April 2024 and pleaded guilty in November 2024 to conspiring to commit wire and bank fraud.

Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Jason Rees, Special Agent in Charge, United States Secret Service, announced the sentence imposed on Feb. 23 by U.S. District Court Judge Michael J. Newman. Assistant United States Attorney Elizabeth L. McCormick and Special Assistant United States Attorney Dwight K. Keller are representing the United States in this case.

The Defendant was sentenced to 96 months incarceration on Count 1. Five years Supervised Release. Standard Conditions of Supervised Release apply, in addition to three Special Conditions. No fine imposed. Forfeiture ordered. Restitution of $966,082.00 ordered. Special Assessment of $100 due immediately. Defendants rights of appeal explained and understood.