Three individuals from New York, including Jianing Chen, were arrested in Strasburg, Virginia, after scamming a resident out of cash, local authorities reported.
On November 25, a Strasburg resident received a phone call from someone claiming to be a federal law enforcement agent. The caller falsely informed the resident that they were facing criminal charges, but could resolve the situation by paying a “substantial” sum of money. The scammer then arrived at the victim’s home, collected the money, and quickly left.
On November 27, the Strasburg Police Department (SPD) identified the vehicle used by the suspects. One suspect, Jianing Chen from Brooklyn, was arrested without incident near the victim’s home. Meanwhile, two others, Zhongxing Wu and Pi Yu Lin, also from Brooklyn, led officers on a brief chase that ended at the intersection of Brand and Capon Streets, where they were taken into custody.
The suspects are charged with obtaining money under false pretenses. Wu is also charged with felony eluding police. All three were held without bond. SPD has stated that the investigation is still ongoing, and additional charges may be forthcoming after discussions with the Shenandoah County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office.
Stay tuned for more updates as the investigation continues.
