Undocumented NY resident accused of swindling $110K in Gold Bullion from Nelson Co. man, sheriff says

Story by Thad Randazzo

NELSON COUNTY, Va. (WFXR) – The Nelson County Sheriff says an undocumented man living in NYS, has been charged with racketeering after posing as a Federal Reserve employee to swindle over $100,000 of Gold Bullion from a Virginia resident.

The sheriff says that on August 16, a Nelson County resident reported being the victim of a financial exploitation scam. 

It was determined by investigators that the incident started in July 2024 when the victim’s laptop was infected with a malware virus. The victim attempted to remove the infected malware but was directed to a person by telephone who claimed to be a Microsoft employee.

The person on the phone said their identity was compromised and they would need to purchase a “substantial amount of Gold Bullion” which would need to be collected and stored at a Federal Reserve in order to resolve the problem.

On July 31, the victim ordered $100,000 worth of Gold Bullion with the help of the alleged Microsoft employee. The gold was delivered to the victim’s home in Nelson County on August 2. But an unknown man in a dark-colored SUV quickly arrived, picked up the gold from the victim, and then left.

On August 6, the victim received a written letter with the letterhead “Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve” requesting an additional purchase of ‘Gold Bullion’ for “identity protection.”

The victim again complied and made a second purchase of gold on August 14 with the assistance of an alleged Federal Reserve employee. The second delivery of bullion occurred to the Nelson County residence on August 19; however, investigators with Nelson County and the Richmond F.B.I. intercepted the currier as they arrived at the home.

The courier has been identified as Liang Wang, who is believed to be an illegal resident living in Flushing, NY.

Wang has been arrested and charged with the following:

• Racketeering
• Conspiracy to Commit a Felony Larceny
• Conspiracy to Obtain Money by False Pretenses
• Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering

He is currently being held at the Albermarle/Charlottesville Regional Jail without bond.

“The Nelson County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the joint efforts of the Virginia State Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation for the safe apprehension of Mr. Wang, and for exposing this organized criminal enterprise.” – Nelson County Sheriff’s Office

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Undocumented NY resident accused of swindling $110K in Gold Bullion from Nelson Co. man, sheriff says