New York Men Arrested During Gold Bar Scam, Placed On Immigration Detainers

WILTON, NH— Two New York men have been taken into custody following a pair of sting operations by the Wilton Police Department involving a high-value computer virus scam targeting an elderly resident.

The investigation began during the last week of September when Officer Pardue looked into a computer virus fraud scheme. Investigators found that the elderly victim had been manipulated into agreeing to make substantial payments in physical gold bars. The primary suspect behind the scheme arranged for a courier to travel from New York directly to Wilton to collect the gold.

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On Sept. 25, Officer Pardue and fellow Wilton police officers set up an undercover operation that resulted in the arrest of Xu Dalong, of Brooklyn, New York. Dalong was charged with attempted felony theft. After his arraignment, he was placed in preventive detention and an immigration detainer was filed.

Undeterred by the initial bust, the ringleader behind the scam sent a second courier to Wilton just days later to attempt to retrieve the gold.

Police staged a second sting on Sept. 28, arresting Xiong Zheng, also of Brooklyn, New York. Like Dalong, Zheng was charged with attempted felony theft and held on preventative detention and an immigration detainer following his arraignment.

Due to the multi-jurisdictional nature of the crime, the Wilton Police Department received assistance from the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

Authorities executed search warrants for the suspects' vehicles and cellular devices to identify additional potential victims and fraudulent activity. HSI digital forensic investigators are assisting with data extraction from the seized phones.

Authorities are urging the public to speak with elderly relatives, neighbors, and friends regarding these sophisticated extortion tactics. Wilton police emphasized that no legitimate organization or agency will ever demand payment in gold, cryptocurrency, gift cards, or other physical valuables.