STUART, Fla. (CBS12) — A man posing as a federal agent was arrested in Stuart after allegedly attempting to extort $40,000 from a victim — part of a larger fraud scheme targeting Floridians.
According to the Stuart Police Department (SPD), the arrest was the result of coordinated efforts between local detectives, the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office, and statewide prosecutors. Their investigation revealed a complex fraud ring exploiting multiple victims across the state.
The case began in Bradenton, where one resident lost hundreds of thousands of dollars through Bitcoin, gift cards, and cash payments. When Manatee County detectives discovered the victim was still being targeted, they intervened — resulting in the arrest of Guizhi Chen and Linxian Chen.
However, the scam didn’t end there.
Digital evidence from the suspects’ phones led investigators to a new victim in Stuart. This individual reported being contacted by a man who claimed their computer had been hacked and contained child pornography. The caller, using the alias “Chris Michael,” posed as a federal agent and threatened severe legal consequences unless the victim sent $40,000 in cash.
The suspect was later identified as 22-year-old Yican Wu of Coral Springs.
On Wednesday, law enforcement staged a fake money drop, successfully apprehending Wu during the $40,000 cash pickup.
Wu now faces multiple charges, including attempted scheme to defraud between $20,000 and $50,000, conspiracy, and unlawful use of a two-way communication device.
