Chinese man held on $500,000 bail in Ohio for alleged multi-state scam
By Carl Samson
A Chinese man who police say illegally entered the U.S. is now being held on a $500,000 bail after allegedly impersonating an officer and scamming an elderly victim in Ohio.
Charges: Si Qi Yu, 26, is accused of pretending to be a sheriff’s deputy and conning the Belmont County resident out of hundreds of thousands of dollars in “fines.” He was arrested in late September and subsequently charged with telecommunications fraud, aggravated theft, receiving stolen property and engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity.
About the suspect: Yu illegally entered the U.S. and lived in Brooklyn, New York, according to police. He claimed to speak no English.
The big picture: Authorities believe Yu is part of a larger multi-state scam operation that involves suspects posing as government officials or law enforcement officers. He is also wanted in New Jersey for theft.
What’s next: A judge on Tuesday ordered Yu to be held on a $500,000 bail. He will remain in the Belmont County Jail until his trial on Dec. 14 before being transported to New Jersey.
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