Show-Me State Times

A Chinese national has admitted to taking $95,000 from a 79-year-old victim in Missouri as part of an elder fraud scheme. Dongyi Guo, 28, pleaded guilty in the U.S. District Court in St. Louis to conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

According to court documents, Guo and his co-conspirators began contacting the victim in March 2024 through phone calls and electronic messages. They falsely claimed to represent her financial institutions or the Social Security Office, asserting that her accounts were compromised and required payment to prevent theft. The conspirators informed her that an FDIC employee would collect the money.

Guo traveled from New York City to Chicago, rented a car, and drove to the victim's home. On March 4, he collected $40,000 in cash from her. He returned for another $35,000 on March 5 and took $20,000 more on March 6. His arrest occurred on March 7 when he attempted to collect an additional $15,000.

Guo faces sentencing on March 6, 2025. The charge of conspiracy carries a potential penalty of up to 20 years imprisonment and a fine of up to $250,000.

The investigation was conducted by the Knox County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Derek Wiseman is handling the prosecution.

For those aged 60 or older who have experienced financial fraud, assistance is available through the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). This service is managed by the Justice Department's Office for Victims of Crime and operates Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET with support available in English, Spanish, and other languages. Additionally, consumer complaints can be directed to the Federal Trade Commission hotline at 877-FTC-HELP or their website www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov.