A Chinese national attempted to steal $98,000 from an American woman by impersonating a U.S. Marshal before being caught in a sting operation and detained by Homeland Security for immigration violations.
Key Takeaways
- Liqing Chi, a 29-year-old Chinese national, was arrested for impersonating a U.S. Marshal in an attempt to scam a New York woman out of $98,000
- The victim recognized the scam and reported it to local authorities, who set up a sting operation resulting in Chi’s arrest
- After being released on his own recognizance following arraignment, Chi was promptly detained by Homeland Security for immigration violations
- Multiple law enforcement agencies collaborated in the investigation, highlighting the serious nature of foreign nationals conducting scams on American soil
Foreign National Caught in Marshal Impersonation Scheme
A brazen scam targeting Americans has been thwarted in New York as authorities arrested Liqing Chi, a 29-year-old Chinese national, for impersonating a U.S. Marshal in an elaborate phone scam. Chi allegedly called a woman in St. Lawrence County, falsely claiming she owed money to U.S. Marshals and attempting to extort $98,000 from her. The scheme represents a growing trend of foreign nationals operating on American soil to defraud citizens through sophisticated impersonation tactics, raising concerns about both financial security and immigration enforcement under President Trump’s administration.
The scam began to unravel when the intended victim recognized something suspicious about the calls demanding payment. Instead of complying with the fraudster’s demands, she took the prudent step of reporting the incident to the St. Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office. This quick thinking by the potential victim gave law enforcement the opportunity to organize a sting operation that would catch the perpetrator in the act, demonstrating how alert citizens working with law enforcement can effectively combat these criminal schemes targeting American communities.
Sting Operation Leads to Arrest
Acting on the woman’s report, the St. Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office arranged a meeting between Chi and the intended victim at a business location in Canton, New York. When Chi arrived expecting to collect his fraudulent payment, detectives were waiting to apprehend him. The successful operation involved coordination between multiple agencies, including the St. Lawrence County Drug Task Force, Canton Police Department, Ogdensburg Police Department, New York State Police, St. Lawrence County District Attorney’s Office Investigation Unit, United States Border Patrol, and Homeland Security Investigations. This extensive collaboration highlights the seriousness with which authorities view such scams.
Following his arrest, Chi was charged with a felony count of attempted grand larceny. He was subsequently arraigned in Canton Town Court where, surprisingly, he was released on his own recognizance. This release, however, proved to be short-lived. In a demonstration of improved interagency coordination under the current administration, Homeland Security Investigations quickly stepped in and detained Chi for alleged immigration violations, ensuring he would not have the opportunity to continue his criminal activities or evade justice by fleeing the country.
A Warning to the Public
This case serves as a stark reminder that government agencies, particularly law enforcement organizations like the U.S. Marshals Service, do not demand money over the phone. Legitimate government communications about financial matters follow strict protocols that never include demands for immediate payment via unconventional methods. The St. Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office has emphasized this point in the wake of Chi’s arrest, urging residents to verify the identity of anyone claiming to represent a government agency before providing any personal information or financial assets.
The incident also underscores concerns about illegal immigration and criminal activity. That Chi was detained by Homeland Security for immigration violations after his initial release by the court demonstrates the intersecting issues of immigration enforcement and crime prevention. The fact that a foreign national was operating within the United States while allegedly violating immigration laws and attempting to defraud American citizens raises questions about border security and the vetting of those entering the country. Under President Trump’s leadership, these interconnected security concerns are receiving renewed attention and coordinated enforcement.
