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Three Chinese students were sentenced by a federal court and ordered to pay restitution for participating in an interstate computer pop-up scam that collected cash from American elderly people and transported the stolen money. The amount involved in the case was more than US$10 million.
pennsylvania The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District announced that Yanqun Jiang, 26, of State College, Pennsylvania (hereinafter transcribed), Hanlin Yang, 26, and Lei Bao, 24, of New York, were charged with participating in a large-scale computer “pop-up” targeting the elderly.scam He played a relevant role in the case and has been sentenced. The gang falsely told victims that their computers or bank accounts had been compromised. Members of the criminal group also visited victims’ homes, pretended to be federal law enforcement officers, collected large amounts of cash from victims under the pretense of property security, and fabricated other lies. More than 50 victims were defrauded across 19 states in the United States and the total amount involved exceeded US$10 million.
On October 20, 2026, US Federal District Court Chief Judge Matthew W. Brann sentenced Bao Lei to 30 months in prison and ordered him to pay $377,591 in restitution to the victims, according to the Justice Ministry’s website. Bao Lei worked as a driver (withdrawer) in the criminal group and collected cash from victims several times. Bao also transported suitcases filled with stolen cash from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to Los Angeles, California on at least five occasions for delivery to other members of the criminal group.
On October 22, 2026, Judge Brann sentenced Jiang Yankun to 84 months in prison and ordered him to pay US$1.267122 as compensation to the victim. Jiang Yankun was originally a driver in a criminal group and eventually became the driver’s chief supervisor. Jiang Yankun collected the cash stolen from other riders, packed the accumulated cash, and coordinated the transportation of the cash to other criminal group members in Los Angeles, California.
On October 23, 2026, Judge Busuo sentenced Yang Hanlin to 24 months in prison and ordered him to pay US$400,800 as compensation to the victim. Yang Hanlin worked as a driver for the criminal group and drove to the homes of at least six victims to extort cash.
“These fraudsters target and exploit the most vulnerable in our society,” said U.S. Attorney Miller. “These sentences demonstrate our office’s determination to protect our elderly victims and prosecute offenders to the fullest extent of the law.”
“These defendants preyed on the trust and fear of older Americans, causing widespread financial harm and lasting emotional harm to victims across the United States,” said Nathan Abel, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Philadelphia. “Fraud schemes like this go far beyond simply stealing money, they undermine victims’ sense of security and confidence. HSI Philadelphia will continue to work with law enforcement partners to identify and hold accountable those who prey on vulnerable members of our community.”
“Fraud targeting our elderly population has devastating consequences, threatening not only their financial stability but also their sense of security,” said Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Philadelphia Division. “The FBI will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to investigate complex financial crimes, protect older Americans from financial exploitation, and bring those responsible to justice.”
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of Pennsylvania confirmed in July 2025 that eight Chinese nationals, including Jiang Yankun, Yang Hanlin, and Bao Lei, had come to the United States on F-1 student visas.international students He was prosecuted in several states for allegedly committing wire fraud.
