- đź“Ś A lead defendant pleaded guilty in San Diego federal court for orchestrating a $65 million multinational elder fraud ring.
- đź“Ś The scheme targeted elderly victims across the U.S., using deceptive tactics to steal savings.
- đź“Ś The guilty plea is part of a broader prosecution involving 10 other defendants who also pleaded guilty.
- đź“Ś The case highlights ongoing efforts by federal authorities to combat elder fraud in California.
- đź“Ś YouTubers from Scammer Payback and Trilogy Media helped federal investigators identify defendants and uncover the conspiracy.
Introduction
A man accused of being the mastermind behind a massive elder fraud scheme that defrauded victims of approximately $65 million has pleaded guilty in San Diego federal court. The case, prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of California, underscores the growing threat of financial scams targeting older Americans. More than 30 defendants have been charged in the multinational fraud and money laundering scheme, with a little help from the YouTubers behind channels Scammer Payback and Trilogy Media.
Details of the Guilty Plea
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the lead defendant, Hua Wang, entered a guilty plea on June 30 in San Diego federal court. He was arrested in April 2025 at his home in Flushing, New York, days after his co-defendant Weining Su was arrested at JFK airport while attempting to board a one-way flight to China. Wang admitted that, from 2019 to 2023, he was responsible for more than 2,000 cash packages sent by elderly victims, totaling $64 million in victim loss. The fraud ring operated across multiple countries, using sophisticated methods to deceive elderly individuals into handing over their life savings. The scheme involved fake investment opportunities, impersonation of government officials, and other fraudulent tactics.
Scope of the Fraud
The ring is estimated to have stolen around $65 million from victims nationwide. The prosecution involved 11 defendants total, with the lead defendant being the last to plead guilty. The case is part of a larger crackdown on elder fraud by federal agencies, including the FBI and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. The criminal network was based in Southern California and had operated since at least 2019. The fraudsters — mostly Chinese nationals working with India-based scam call centers — would call elderly victims posing as technical support agents, government officials or bank employees. They would then instruct the victims to withdraw bulk cash, conceal it in packages and mail them to various names and addresses provided by the conspirators. The packages were shipped to short-term rental locations, addressed to fictitious names corresponding with fake IDs.
Role of YouTubers
Scammer Payback host Pierogi, alongside Trilogy Media’s Ashton Bingham and Art Kulik (who also host the Fox Nation show “Scammed: Getting Even”), helped federal law enforcement identify multiple defendants and uncover the structure of the conspiracy, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office. After a federal investigation uncovered 11 packages in San Diego containing approximately $135,000 in cash, law enforcement discovered several YouTube videos posted in 2020 and 2021 that helped identify members of the fraud ring. Scammer Payback and Trilogy Media baited fraudsters and confronted them on camera, leading law enforcement to identify and indict Zhiyi Zhang, Dudu Chen and Huajian Chen, as well as other high-level members of the operation.
Local California Context
San Diego County has seen a rise in elder fraud cases in recent years, with law enforcement agencies stepping up efforts to protect vulnerable residents. The guilty plea in this case sends a strong message to fraudsters operating in California, a state with a high concentration of elderly populations. Local authorities urge residents to report suspicious activity to the San Diego Police Department or the FBI.
Conclusion
This guilty plea marks a significant victory for federal prosecutors in San Diego and offers some justice for the elderly victims who lost their savings. As the case moves toward sentencing, authorities encourage anyone who suspects elder fraud to contact Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477 or the San Diego Police Department's elder fraud unit. The investigation has also led to guilty pleas from co-conspirators including Xiao Lei Xu, Wen Chang Wang, aka “Cookies,” Jiawen Cai, aka “Johnny Cai,” Zhuhan Yin, Wenzhi Chen, Yuhui Sun, Jiaxin Jiang, Bing Shen and Chongchong Li. Their respective sentencing hearings are scheduled from July to September. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Mokhtari and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine Rookard.