June 3, 2025:
A California man has been sentenced to eight years in prison and ordered to pay $325,000 in restitution after earlier pleading guilty in connection to an internet scam involving a Lawrence County couple in a theft of at least $325,000.
Chao Zheng, 30, of Monterey, CA, was sentenced Tuesday in Lawrence County Circuit Court. In February, he had pleaded guilty to one felony count of Aiding and Abetting Grand Theft of more than $100,000 but less than $500,000 by Deception. As a Chinese National, Zeng also faces the possibility of deportation.
“Thank you to the victims who had the courage to come forward to report this crime and the investigators for their work,” said South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley. “We encourage all consumers who receive such solicitations via the internet or telephone not to respond but to call law enforcement or someone you trust.”
The crimes occurred between July 26, 2024 and Aug. 23, 2024, when the couple received pop-up messages on their laptop computer from “Microsoft Security.” They were asked to call a “fraud investigator” at a bank and ordered to pay large amounts of money to cover so-called commissions of crimes that had been found on their accounts. The couple paid the money three different times.
Zheng was arrested when he tried to personally collect a fourth payment on Aug. 23, 2024. The exact amount of money stolen has not yet been determined.
The case was investigated by the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) and the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office. The Attorney General’s Office and Lawrence County State’s Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case.
February 5, 2025:
A 30 year old California man has pleaded guilty in connection to an internet scam costing a Lawrence County couple at least $325,000.
Chao Zheng of Monterey, CA, pleaded guilty Tuesday (Feb. 4, 2025) in Lawrence County Circuit Court to one felony count of Aiding and Abetting Grand Theft of more than $100,000 but less than $500,000 by Deception.
Attorney General Marty Jackley says the crimes occurred between July 26 and Aug. 23, 2024, when the couple received pop-up messages on their laptop computer claiming to be from “Microsoft Security.” The couple were asked to call a “fraud investigator” at a bank and ordered to pay large amounts of money to cover so-called commissions of crimes that had been found on their accounts. The couple paid the money three different times.
Jackley says Zheng was arrested when he tried to personally collect a fourth payment on Aug. 23, 2024. He says total amount of money stolen has not yet been determined.
Zheng faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison when he is sentenced on June 3. As a Chinese National, the defendant also faces deportation.
The case was investigated by the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation and the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office. The Attorney General’s Office and Lawrence County State’s Attorney’s Office are prosecuting the case.
September 19, 2024:
South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley announces that a California man has been indicted in an internet scam involving a Lawrence County couple.
“This case involved the alleged theft of at least $325,000,” said Attorney General Jackley. “I appreciate the courage of the victims to come forward, and the work of our investigators to protect our consumers. We encourage everyone who receives such solicitations via the internet or telephone not to respond but to call law enforcement or someone you trust.”
Chao Zheng, 30, of Monterey, CA pleaded not guilty Tuesday (Sept. 17, 2024) when he was arraigned in Lawrence County Circuit Court. He has been charged with one felony count of Aiding and Abetting Grand Theft of more than $100,000 but less than $500,000 by Deception and one felony count of Conspiracy To Commit Grant Theft of more than $100,000 but less than $500,000 by Deception. The exact amount of the money stolen is still being investigated.
The crimes occurred between July 26, 2024 and Aug. 23, 2024 when the couple received pop-up messages on their laptop computer from “Microsoft Security.” They were asked to call a “fraud investigator” at a bank and ordered to pay large amounts of money to cover so-called commissions of crimes that had been found on their accounts. The couple paid the money three different times. Zheng was arrested when he tried to personally collect a fourth payment on Aug. 23.
Zheng faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison on the Aiding and Abetting charge and a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison on the Conspiracy charge. He is being held on a $100,000 bond, and his next court appearance is Nov. 5. The defendant is presumed innocent under the U.S. Constitution.
The case is being investigated by the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation and the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office. The Attorney General’s Office and Lawrence County State’s Attorney’s Office are prosecuting the case.
Comments