Queens Duo Arrested After Attempting to Swindle 84 Year-Old Woman out of Nearly $8,000, Cops Say

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Jiarui Chen, 25, and Yue Niu, 26, called the victim and told her that her grandson was in police custody, police say.

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(L to R): Jiarui Chen, 25, Yue Niu, 26.

Photo by: Nassau County Police Department

The First Squad reports the Arrest of two individuals from Queens for Attempted Grand Larceny that occurred in Roosevelt.
 
According to detectives, on Wednesday, April 3, 2019, a female victim, 84, from Goodhue Minnesota, received a phone call from an unknown subject who stated they were an attorney and that her grandson was in police custody. The subject instructed the victim to purchase multiple gift cards amounting to approximately $2,750 US currency in value and give them the codes over the phone, which the victim complied. 
 
On Friday, April 5, 2019, the victim was again contacted by the subject and informed that in order to get her grandson into a work release program they required an additional $5,100 US currency to be mailed to an address on Hudson Avenue, Roosevelt. The victim went to a UPS store where a store employee informed the victim that she should contact the police before mailing out the package. The Goodhue Police Department of Minnesota contacted Nassau County Police and informed them of the situation. 
 
On Monday, April 15, 2019 Nassau Detectives observed defendant Jiarui Chen, 25, of Queens arrive at the location and remove the delivered package from the front porch. Defendant Jiarui Chen was placed into custody without incident. Upon further investigation Police were able to locate his vehicle, a 2014 Mercedes Benz in which his wife, defendant Yue Niu, 26, of Queens, was inside and was apprehended without incident. The vehicle was impounded. The investigation is ongoing.
 
Detectives request if anyone believes that they have been victimized by Defendants Jiarui Chen or Yue Niu to contact Nassau Police at 1-800-244-TIPS. All calls will remain anonymous.
 
Defendants Jiarui Chen and Yue Niu are each charged with Attempted Grand Larceny 3rd degree. Defendant Jiarui Chen was arraigned on Tuesday, April 16, 2019 at First District Court 99 Main Street Hempstead. Defendant Yue Niu was issued an appearance ticket returnable to First District Court on Monday, May 13, 2019.
 
A criminal charge is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.