U.S. District Judge John A. Ross sentenced Dongyi Guo, a 28-year-old man from China, to 21 months in prison for his role in defrauding an elderly Missouri resident. Guo was also ordered to repay the $95,000 he took from the 79-year-old victim.
Guo was involved in a conspiracy that targeted elderly individuals. The group contacted the victim beginning in March 2024, posing as representatives from her financial institutions and the Social Security Office. They falsely claimed that her accounts were compromised, urging her to pay money to prevent theft, saying an FDIC employee would collect the funds.
Guo traveled from New York City to Chicago, then rented a car to the victim's home, collecting $40,000 on March 4, 2024. He took $35,000 the following day and $20,000 on March 6. His co-conspirators continued coaxing the victim for more funds, leading to Guo's arrest on March 7 while attempting to collect an additional $15,000.
In a letter to the court, the victim's daughter stated that her mother died seven months after the scam, and that it "unquestionably contributed" to her passing. The daughter explained that her mother felt "mentally and physically broken, alone, and wanting to die" after being tricked.
Guo pleaded guilty in November to a conspiracy to commit wire fraud in a St. Louis court. The Knox County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Derek Wiseman prosecuted the case.
The Justice Department encourages victims aged 60 or older to report financial fraud. The National Elder Fraud Hotline, facilitated by the Office for Victims of Crime, can help identify reporting agencies and provide resources. The hotline is available at 1-833-372-8311 from Monday through Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET. Additionally, the Federal Trade Commission offers assistance at 877-FTC-HELP and a website for consumer complaints.
