PITTSBURGH — District Attorney Stephen A. Zappala, Jr. and the Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office have charged Daxue Yang, 35, of California, with felony counts of unlawful taking, theft by deception, financial exploitation of an older adult and criminal attempt.
According to the criminal complaint, Yang and co-defendant Shuai Jiao targeted an elderly woman via phone call, claiming to be the “Amazon Fraud Department.” Yang allegedly told the victim her account had been used to open 13 financial accounts linked to illegal purchases, stating that she would be criminally responsible if she failed to follow his directions. The defendant directed her to empty her bank account and to obtain a cashier’s check to purchase gold that could be handed to the “federal officers.”
On Nov. 22, law enforcement, including FBI agents and Allegheny County Police, conducted an undercover operation, which resulted in the apprehension of the defendants. Yang was denied bail at a hearing on Saturday, Nov. 23, due to the lack of ensurance of public safety and the defendant’s appearance in court.
“Our office remains entirely dedicated to protecting the best interests and safety of our older adults,” said DA Zappala. “Scammers are constantly evolving their schemes to swindle people out of their life savings, which is why it is so important to talk about these crimes and be aware of the red flags.”
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