Source: United States Department of Justice
SAN DIEGO – The last of 25 defendants in a $65 million fraud scheme that preyed on thousands of elderly victims in San Diego and beyond admitted their crimes on Friday, marking a significant step toward accountability in the sprawling international case that was bolstered by YouTube scambaiters. The 25 defendants – mostly Chinese nationals – were arrested in August 2025 after a nationwide, weeklong takedown in California, New York, Texas and Michigan. Three charged defendants remain fugitives.