SILVER SPRING, Md. — A California man was convicted Friday for his part in a gold bar scam that stole $800,000 from a Silver Spring woman.
According to the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office, 34-year-old Wenhui Sun pleaded guilty to several charges, including theft scheme over $100,000, theft over $100,000, attempted theft over $100,000 and conspiracy to commit theft over $100,000.
The charges stem from a scheme that aimed to steal more than $1 million from a woman living in the Leisure World community in Silver Spring.
According to documents in the case, the scammers convinced the victim that they worked for agencies such as the U.S. Treasury and the FBI. Officials say the Silver Spring woman handed over nearly $800,000 in gold bars before the scam was brought to light.
The scam is reportedly part of a bigger international organized crime ring.
Law enforcement in Montgomery County has seen similar gold bar scams and in August investigators said the scam has links to China and call centers in India. At least seven victims have been identified who’ve collectively lost more than $6.3 million worth of gold bars.
The conviction pleased State’s Attorney John McCarthy, as Sun was the first of the reported gold bar scams to be prosecuted in Montgomery County.
“As in this case, the scam often targets vulnerable victims who lose their life savings at a time when they are most dependent upon those funds to sustain themselves," said McCarthy. "This is significant organized crime on an international level, and we will be seeking a sentence that reflects the seriousness of the impact on this victim."
Sun will be sentenced on Dec. 9. He faces a maximum sentence of 80 years in prison.