LOUISVILLE, Ky. – A Canadian man accused of defrauding elderly victims across several U.S. states has been arrested in connection to a widespread scam scheme, police said.
According to the Charlestown Police Department, an elderly resident in Charlestown, Indiana, was tricked into withdrawing $27,000 from his retirement account and handing it over to a man who came to his home on May 5. The suspect took the money and fled.
Following an investigation, police identified 36-year-old Jia Hua Liu, a Canadian national who entered the U.S. in April, as the suspect. Authorities linked Liu to additional fraud cases in Indiana, Ohio, New Mexico, and Tennessee, with total confirmed losses exceeding $309,000.
Charlestown Police also reported that three more elderly individuals from Indiana, Kentucky, and Michigan were nearly victimized, but were saved by timely family intervention, potentially preventing another $70,000 in losses.
An arrest warrant was issued for Liu, who was located at Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport on July 2 while preparing to board a flight. He was arrested without incident with help from the Louisville Regional Airport Authority.
Liu faces multiple charges including theft, fraud, conspiracy, and money laundering. Search warrants served on his vehicle and luggage uncovered a significant amount of cash. Investigators have so far issued around 20 search warrants and five subpoenas as the case remains ongoing.
“This arrest is the result of tireless work by our detectives and strong cooperation between agencies,” said Charlestown Police Chief Eric Kruse. “We’re committed to protecting our elderly community members and bringing those who prey on them to justice.”
Charlestown Police urge anyone who believes they or a loved one may have been targeted by a similar scam to contact authorities immediately. Investigators believe there may be more victims in Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, Illinois, Georgia, Alabama, and Tennessee.
