A Chinese man, who acted as a money mule, Jixiong Zhang, has been sentenced to prison for his role in a coordinated fraud scheme that targeted elderly Arizona residents in their 80s and 90s.
According to the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office, between October and December 2024, Zhang acted as a courier in a scam targeting older adults by claiming their bank accounts or online purchases had been compromised. Victims were told to withdraw large sums of cash and hand the money to couriers sent to collect it. The victims in the cases were 83, 93, 94, and 99 years old, and investigators found that Zhang collected or tried to collect more than $112,500 from them as part of the scheme.
Zhang pleaded guilty to several felony charges in three different cases, including theft, money laundering, and helping a criminal organization. He was sentenced to 3.5 years in prison and ordered to pay $79,500 in restitution to the victims.
“Targeting seniors in fraud schemes is particularly cruel,” said County Attorney Rachel Mitchell. “These crimes steal more than money. They take away a sense of security and trust. We will continue to pursue and prosecute those who prey on older adults in our community.”
Following the completion of his sentence, Zhang is expected to face immigration proceedings.
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