7 men arrested after Nassau police break up $20 million gift card scheme
MINEOLA, Nassau County (WABC) -- Nassau County police on Thursday announced they arrested seven men in a $20 million money laundering scheme on Long Island.
Authorities say the scam involved the men using fraudulently obtained gift cards through computers to buy and resell merchandise.
Surveillance cameras at Home Depot's and Lowe's across Nassau County captured the men purchasing more than $3 million worth of plumbing items -- mostly copper pipes, steel cables and hot water heaters.
"This is one of the largest money laundering cases my office has prosecuted in my time as district attorney," said Nassau County District Attorney Anne T. Donnelly.
Donnelly acknowledged the men used the gift cards after they swindled residents -- mostly elderly -- into buying for them. Computer spyware would come up and block their screen or the victims would receive fake text messages saying their identities or financial information was compromised. They were then instructed to buy gift cards.
"They were told to go buy Home Depot and Lowe's gift cards to off set the charges or to avoid being arrested," Donnelly said.
The 15-month investigation also led police to uncover 12 box trucks with $650,000 worth of merchandise, along with $100,000 cash, high-end jewelry and handbags.
"I witnessed it as they unloaded trucks the other day," said Nassau County Police Dept. Commissioner Patrick Ryder. "Our chief of detectives was in a suit was unloading the trucks."
Investigators believe the group's leader is 36-year-old Sky Cunhang Lin. The Flushing, Queens native was seen over 100 times on surveillance video.
Each man was charged with money laundering and conspiracy. If convicted, they face up to 15 years in prison.
Police say they are looking for five others involved in the scheme.
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