SONOMA COUNTY, CA — An Oakland man accused of posing as a federal agent in a cash scam targeting Windsor residents appeared in Sonoma County court on Tuesday.
According to the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office, scammers pretended to be federal officials and convinced victims that their bank accounts had been compromised. Victims were told to withdraw their money so a “courier” could collect it for supposed safekeeping.
Investigators said Zhengning Chen, of Oakland, was arrested during a sting operation after he arrived to pick up money from someone he believed was a victim.
Chen is currently being held at the Sonoma County Detention Facility on $250,000 bail, according to Sheriff’s Office records.
Authorities have not released information about the victims involved in the case.