A Chinese national has been sentenced to 21 months in prison for defrauding a Missouri resident of $95,000. U.S. District Judge John A. Ross delivered the sentence to 28-year-old Dongyi Guo, who was also ordered to repay the money.
Guo was involved in a scheme that targeted elderly victims, including a 79-year-old woman from Missouri. The conspiracy began contacting the victim in March 2024, posing as representatives from her financial institutions and the Social Security Office. They falsely claimed there was an issue with her financial accounts, advising her to pay to prevent theft. Guo traveled from New York to Chicago, then drove to the victim's home, where he collected cash on three occasions.
The fraudulent acts reportedly had severe consequences for the victim. According to her daughter, the elderly woman's health declined rapidly, and she died seven months after the crime. The daughter mentioned in a court letter that the scam “unquestionably contributed” to her mother's deteriorating condition. She was misled into withdrawing cash after being convinced she was hacked, leading to a withdrawal from life-saving activities and nourishment.
Guo was charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, to which he pleaded guilty in November in U.S. District Court in St. Louis. The Knox County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI were involved in investigating the case, while Assistant U.S. Attorney Derek Wiseman handled the prosecution.
Authorities urge individuals aged 60 or older who have experienced financial fraud to report these incidents through the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11. This service is managed by the Office for Victims of Crime and aims to aid victims in reporting fraud and accessing resources. It operates Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET, with services available in multiple languages. The Federal Trade Commission also offers a hotline at 877-FTC-HELP and a website for consumer complaints at www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov.