Sheriff Kevin J. McConville reports the arrests of two individuals in unrelated cases for swindling money from elderly victims through deception.
On March 31, 2025, a deputy was dispatched to a residence in the Town of Putnam Valley to take a report from a 79-year-old resident who had already given over $25,000 to unknown suspects in two transactions. The victim said they were first contacted by text message from someone stating that they were from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and they owed a fine and needed to put money in a shoebox and wrap it up, and someone would come and pick it up. The deputy advised
Sheriff's Office investigators responded and were able to listen to phone calls between the suspects and the victim and coordinate an arrest when they showed up to collect more money. On April 1, investigators arrested 35-year-old Ye Xu of Flushing, NY when he arrived at the residence to retrieve the money.
On April 3, a deputy was dispatched to a residence in the Town of Southeast to check on the welfare of an 83-year-old resident who had just left a bank in Southeast after withdrawing $20,000. The bank staff believed that the elderly person was possibly the victim of a scam. Investigators were able to contact the victim when they arrived home and learned that they had received an email and subsequent phone calls from the suspects, who informed them to withdraw the money, put it in a shoebox, and wait for someone to come and pick it up. Surveillance was set up on the residence, and later that day, a vehicle arrived. The driver, Hengjian Wang, 39 years of age from Flushing, NY, was arrested when he approached the residence.
Both suspects were charged with Attempted Grand Larceny 3rd degree, a class D felony, but due to bail reform laws, were processed and released with an Appearance Ticket returnable at a future date in the Towns of Putnam Valley and Southeast Courts, respectively.
Sheriff McConville commends the bank employees for calling 911 when they believed that the victim was being scammed. He reminds all residents to watch out for elderly relatives and neighbors and that the government will never ask for money in gift cards or shoe boxes.
