A Flushing man has been arrested for allegedly impersonating a federal law enforcement agent to scam a Chinese national out of more than $500,000 in an elaborate visa fraud scheme, authorities announced.
Tommy Aijie Da Silva Weng, 49, also known as “Tommy Weng Da Silva” and “Jacky,” was taken into custody by FBI agents in Brooklyn on Friday morning after a federal grand jury indictment charged him with wire fraud, mail fraud, and impersonating a federal law enforcement officer.
Fake ICE Agent and False Promises
Prosecutors say Weng misled the victim into believing he was an ICE agent and claimed he could secure her a green card through the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Visa Program—but only if she invested $500,000 in his supposed hotel project in California.
To make his deception convincing, Weng allegedly:
Showed a fake law enforcement badge
Handed out a business card from the “Federal Officers Police Association” with his name
Drove a red Hummer with a vanity plate reading “BWTICE”, referencing both ICE and a Flushing temple he frequented
Falsely claimed to work for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and later said he was transferring to INTERPOL in Milan, Italy
$500K Check and Eight Years of Lies
In May 2016, convinced by Weng’s claims, the victim wrote him a $501,500 check made payable to Ding Cheng Overseas Management Inc, a company Weng owns in Brooklyn.
However, instead of filing a visa application or making any investment, Weng allegedly pocketed the money and strung the victim along with excuses for nearly eight years.
FBI Calls Out ‘Elaborate Scheme’
U.S. Attorney John Durham condemned Weng’s actions, stating:
“The defendant preyed on the victim’s desire to become a U.S. citizen and pursue the American Dream, then stole not only that dream but also hundreds of thousands of dollars.”
FBI Acting Assistant Director Leslie Backschies added:
“This alleged imposter twisted a respected profession into an elaborate scheme while violating the public’s trust in law enforcement.”
Facing Up to 43 Years in Prison
Weng was arraigned in Brooklyn federal court before U.S. Magistrate Judge Lara Eshkenazi on Friday afternoon. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 43 years in federal prison.
“Today, real law enforcement agents put the handcuffs on this fraudster, and he will now have to answer for his crimes,” Durham said.
