In a worrisome turn of events, four illegal aliens coming from China and who entered the U.S. under false pretenses have been convicted in a $1.2 million identity theft scheme targeting American retailers.
The convicted criminals who stole personal information from hundreds of U.S. citizens to create fake driver’s licenses now face deportation after completing their prison sentences as the country clamps down on foreign fraudsters.
The criminals orchestrated an elaborate identity theft operation by creating counterfeit driver’s licenses using stolen American identities.
With these fake IDs in hand, they opened fraudulent store credit accounts at major U.S. retailers, including Sephora, Ulta Beauty, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Nordstrom.
The scheme resulted in at least $1.2 million in losses to these businesses and violated the privacy of countless American citizens.
All four defendants received federal prison sentences for their crimes.
Kar Kee “Steven” Cheung received the harshest sentence at 42 months for visa fraud and related charges.
Qian Guo was sentenced to 33 months for possession of false identification equipment and conspiracy to commit access device fraud.
Chongming “Ming” Wang received 18 months, while Jiaozhu “Yanny” Yan got 12 months and one day for visa fraud.
The investigation revealed that these criminals entered the country under false pretenses with the explicit intention of committing fraud against American businesses and citizens.
This case highlights ongoing concerns about illegal aliens exploiting weaknesses in the immigration system to conduct criminal enterprises on American soil.
The successful prosecution resulted from a coordinated effort led by the State Department’s Diplomatic Security Service, with crucial assistance from Homeland Security Investigations, the FBI, and local police departments.
Assistant United States Attorney Kim Meyer prosecuted the case, securing justice for the hundreds of American victims whose identities were compromised.
This case comes amid renewed cooperation between the United States and China on deportation matters.
After a nearly two-year pause, China has resumed accepting deportees, with five charter flights carrying deported illegals in just the past eight months.
This restored cooperation has already shown results, with a significant decrease in illegal border crossings by Chinese nationals since deportation flights resumed.
Additional co-conspirators in the identity theft ring have also faced justice. Sizhen “Rachel” Liu was previously sentenced to 50 months in federal prison for her role in the scheme.
Another defendant, Hyun Woo “Scott” Jung, has pleaded guilty and is currently awaiting sentencing.
Meanwhile, federal authorities have established a tipline seeking information on similar fraud schemes, particularly encouraging security personnel from affected retailers to come forward with any relevant information.
This proactive approach demonstrates the government’s commitment to preventing similar criminal enterprises from victimizing American businesses and citizens in the future.
As the defendants complete their prison sentences, ICE has confirmed it will initiate removal proceedings to ensure these criminals are deported back to China rather than remaining in the United States.
