Cops charge two NYC men after sting operation bust

Port Jervis City Police Chief William Worden and Orange County District Attorney David M. Hoovler have announced the arrest of Nian Lin, 40, and Zhen Chen, 25, after an investigation and sting operation into a telephone-based scam that occurred in the Port Jervis, N.Y.

The men were arrested March 14 in Port Jervis.

During the investigation, police learned that the men were part of a telephone-based scam network where they impersonated government agents who stated the victim’s identity was compromised and demanded the victim surrender all of her money to them until her identity could be secured.

On March 12, the victim surrendered $42,000 to the suspects at a business on Jersey Avenue in Port Jervis. The victim would later report the incident to city detectives.

With the assistance of the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Investigations and the Orange County Drug Task Force, City Detectives orchestrated a sting operation in which a second meeting was scheduled with persons related to this scheme.

Using a pre-arranged meeting point on Pike Street in the City of Port Jervis, the defendants were located, identified and arrested.

Lin and Chen were each charged with third-degree attempted grand larceny, a class E felony. They were released on their own recognizance for a future court date.

“What made this case unique was the brazenness of these defendants to directly approach a targeted victim after posing as government agents,” Port Jervis Police Chief William Worden said in the press release detailing the arrest.

District Attorney Hoovler added: “Unfortunately, senior citizens are often targeted by criminals who seek to take advantage of their vulnerability. We urge members of the public to be vigilant in response to these threats and to contact law enforcement if they believe they might be the target of such a scam.”

Hoovler and Worden implored people to be wary of any effort to solicit money or personal identifying information, whether in person, online, or by telephone, email or any other electronic means. If you ever have any doubt as to the legitimacy of the person you are talking to, hang up and contact the official listed telephone number of the agency that is allegedly being represented.