A Chinese national, Huachun Zheng, was sentenced on April 2 to 30 months in prison for his role in a scheme involving identity theft and the fraudulent purchase of luxury vehicles from dealerships. The announcement was made by David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut.
Zheng, also known as Ri Yuan and last residing in Queens, New York, used stolen personal and financial information along with counterfeit identification documents to apply for loans at a car dealership in Greenwich. He did not have legal status in the United States at the time of these offenses. According to court records and statements made during proceedings, Zheng and his co-conspirators obtained financing under false identities to purchase or lease high-end vehicles which they then transported to New York with plans to resell them.
One notable incident occurred on September 27, 2022, when Zheng secured $94,742.73 in financing using a stolen identity to buy a 2019 Porsche Panamera from the Greenwich dealership. The vehicle was later repossessed after the fraud was discovered before it could be resold. His associates also used similar tactics to acquire other vehicles from the same dealership.
Investigations found that Zheng’s activities extended beyond vehicle fraud. On September 10, 2022, he was arrested in Nassau County, New York while driving a Maserati purchased through another fraudulent transaction; this car had been registered under an identity he would later use again that month for further crimes.
Zheng has remained detained since his arrest on January 28, 2025. He pleaded guilty on January 6, 2026 to conspiracy to commit bank and wire fraud as well as aggravated identity theft charges. Upon completion of his sentence he will face immigration proceedings.
The case involved investigations by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from both Greenwich Police Department and New York City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elena L. Coronado is prosecuting.
