PRINCETON, W.Va. – The Mercer County Sheriff’s Office arrested a suspect Monday as part of a multi-state fraud investigation targeting elderly victims.
Deputies received information from the Muskegon County Sheriff’s Office in Michigan regarding a scam operation in several states. Michigan authorities had recently detained suspects who directed victims to withdraw and package large sums of cash for in-person collection. Investigators identified a 78-year-old Princeton woman as a potential target of the same scheme.
Deputies warned the woman and conducted surveillance after learning a suspect was traveling to Mercer County to retrieve a cash package. 30-year-old Li Wei, from California, was detained after removing the package from the victim’s residence. Wei was taken into custody during a traffic stop.
Officials recovered a box containing cash and other evidence. Wei was processed at the Mercer County Sheriff’s Office and arraigned by Magistrate Compton. He is being held in the Southern Regional Jail on a $100,000 bond.
Sheriff A.P. Christian stated the investigation remains active in coordination with authorities in Michigan and other local, state, and federal agencies. Additional charges or arrests may follow.
Residents are urged to be cautious of phone calls or online contacts requesting money, particularly instructions to withdraw, package, or mail cash.
