A 40-year-old Chinese national living in Apopka, Florida, is facing up to two decades in federal prison after admitting to her role in a high-stakes conspiracy targeting retirees. Xin Liu pleaded guilty in federal court today to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, a move announced by U.S. Attorney John P. Heekin for the Northern District of Florida.
The scheme involved a coordinated effort between Liu, who was in the U.S. on an H-1B visa, and co-conspirators based in northern China.
According to court records, the group used deceptive phone calls and electronic messages to trick elderly victims into sending large sums of money. Liu’s specific job in the operation was to act as the “boots on the ground,” driving to various locations to collect physical packages of cash.
Investigators found that over an eight-day stretch in July 2025, Liu traveled across Florida at least six times to retrieve or attempt to retrieve more than $95,000 from victims. In one instance, she collected money from a senior living in an assisted living apartment complex in Gainesville.
Evidence showed that Liu would personally verify the contents of the packages she picked up and was paid a cut of the stolen funds for her services. The fraud resulted in substantial financial hardship for at least one of the victims involved.
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“Elder fraud is a devastating crime that is growing increasingly common, as fraudsters like this alien and her China-based co-conspirators prey upon our vulnerable retiree population to enrich themselves,” U.S. Attorney Heekin said. He emphasized that stopping such schemes relies heavily on public education and rapid reporting by victims, noting that his office remains committed to “aggressively prosecute every member of these fraud schemes.”
The investigation was a collaborative effort between the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the IRS-Criminal Investigations, and the Gainesville Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Adam Hapner is leading the prosecution.
Liu is scheduled for sentencing on June 16, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. at the U.S. Courthouse in Gainesville before Chief U.S. District Judge Allen C. Winsor. In addition to potential prison time, she is expected to face deportation proceedings once her sentence is complete.
For those aged 60 or older who have experienced financial fraud, the Justice Department’s National Elder Fraud Hotline is available at 1-833-FRAUD-11. The hotline provides personalized support and helps victims report crimes to the appropriate agencies, which can increase the chances of recovering lost funds.
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