Chinese National Sentenced to Federal Prison for Role in Elder Fraud Scheme

Liu was sentenced to 27 months in federal prison.

Published: 6/23/2026, 5:58:09 PM EDT

Chinese National Sentenced to Federal Prison for Role in Elder Fraud Scheme — The U.S. Department of Justice in Washington on April 27, 2026. (Madalina Kilroy/The Epoch Times)

A Chinese national in Florida was sentenced to more than two years in prison for her role in an elder fraud scheme in Florida.

The United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida announced the sentencing of 40-year-old Xin Liu on Tuesday. Liu is a Chinese national residing in the United States with an H-1B visa. She attempted to collect more than $95,000 in money scammed out of senior citizens throughout the state.

“We are unfortunately seeing a rise in the prevalence of elder fraud schemes orchestrated and executed by foreign nationals who target and financially exploit our senior citizens, depleting their life savings and leaving the victims destitute," U.S. Attorney John Heekin said in a press release. "Raising awareness of these threats is vitally important to preventing more seniors from falling prey to these fraudsters and their schemes. Our state and federal law enforcement partners are working hard to identify and dismantle those fraud schemes, and my office will continue to aggressively prosecute these fraudsters to the fullest extent of the law.”

According to court records, Liu acted as a bagwoman for an elder fraud scheme in the state. For a period of 8 days between July 22 and 30, 2025, Liu drove to six different locations throughout Florida, including at an assisted living home in the city of Gainesville. While at these locations, she picked up money from elderly victims targeted by the scheme, including a resident at that facility. Liu attempted to steal more than $95,000 from the victims and was given a portion of the ill-gotten gains as payment.

Liu was sentenced to 27 months in federal prison.

“Stealing from seniors is not just a financial crime, it’s a betrayal of trust,” FBI Jacksonville Special Agent in Charge Jason Carley said in the release. “Older Americans should never have to fear being targeted by criminals looking to drain their life savings. This sentence reflects the FBI’s commitment to protecting older Americans and holding those accountable who target them.”

The full details of the scheme were not published, but it reportedly used telephone calls and electronic messages to target elderly victims; at least one victim suffered substantial financial hardship.

The case was investigated by several law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, the IRS's Criminal Investigations division, the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office, and the Gainesville Police Department.

“The abuse of elderly individuals is shameful and one of the most disturbing crimes affecting our nation,” said Special Agent in Charge Ron Loecker of IRS Criminal Investigation, Florida Field Office. “IRS-CI will continue to work hand-in hand with our partners and devote resources to protect the vulnerable by dismantling criminal activity that targets elderly victims.”

Last week, the Department of Homeland Security announced that the Coast Guard had interdicted a vessel off the coast of Key Biscayne, Florida, in which authorities encountered 25 illegal aliens, all of whom claimed to be Chinese nationals. Personnel from CBP's Air and Marine Operations division, along with special agents from ICE and HSI, assisted the Coast Guard in processing the aliens.