On Friday, Wenhui Sun, a 34-year-old man from Lake Arbor, California, pleaded guilty in Montgomery County Circuit Court to multiple theft charges in connection with a scheme that defrauded an elderly resident of Silver Spring out of over $1.1 million. Sentencing is scheduled for December 9, 2024, and Sun faces a maximum of 80 years in prison.
According to the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office, Sun’s charges include theft scheme over $100,000, theft over $100,000, attempted theft over $100,000, and conspiracy to commit theft over $100,000.
The case marks the first conviction in a series of international gold bar scams targeting vulnerable individuals in the area.
The victim, an elderly woman residing in the Leisure World community, was swindled out of nearly $800,000, primarily through the purchase of gold bars. This incident is believed to be part of a larger organized crime ring involved in similar scams across Montgomery County and the United States.
In a joint effort to combat these scams, State’s Attorney John McCarthy held a news conference on August 12, 2024, alongside Montgomery County Police, the FBI Baltimore Field Office, and Homeland Security Investigations, to raise public awareness about the prevalence of gold bar scams.
Assistant State’s Attorneys Hannah Gleason and Robert Hill are handling the prosecution of this case. McCarthy expressed his gratitude to the Montgomery County Police Fraud Division, particularly Detective Sean Petty, for their diligent work in bringing this case to court.
He emphasized the significant impact of organized crime on vulnerable victims and stated, We will be seeking a sentence that reflects the seriousness of the impact on this victim.