KEENE — New York resident Wenhua Zhuo has been indicted on charges of attempted theft by deception after allegedly acting as a courier in a scam to defraud an elderly man in Richmond, New Hampshire, Attorney General John M. Formella announced today.
The Cheshire County Grand Jury indicted Zhuo, 48, of Flushing, on one class A felony count following an investigation that uncovered a scheme involving a fraudulent call from an individual claiming to be from the Fraud Department of a local bank.
The caller told the victim, identified only as B.B., age 77, that his bank account had been compromised and instructed him to withdraw $20,000 and hand it over to a courier.
According to the indictment, Zhuo is accused of traveling to B.B.’s home with the intention of committing theft by deception.
Upon arriving, Zhuo reportedly walked onto the property and approached B.B., who was holding a package that was believed to contain more than $1,500 in U.S. currency.
The indictment, however, is not a conviction, and Zhuo maintains the presumption of innocence until proven guilty.
Zhuo’s arraignment is scheduled for Nov. 7 at 1 p.m. at the Cheshire County Superior Court.
He was previously arrested in connection with this charge on July 16.
The case was investigated by Calice Couchman-Ducey of the Attorney General’s Elder Abuse and Financial Exploitation Unit, with the assistance of the Cheshire County Sheriff’s Office.
Prosecutors Nancy DeAngelis and Senior Assistant Attorney General Bryan J. Townsend, II of the same unit are handling the prosecution.
Authorities urge anyone who suspects elder abuse or financial exploitation to contact local law enforcement or the Department of Health and Human Services, Bureau of Adult and Aging Services at 1-800-949-0470.
