Ogdensburg fraud case remains pending after accused men were deported

Two Chinese nationals accused of trying to take $50,000 from an Ogdensburg woman were deported before they could be arraigned in St. Lawrence County Court, leaving the case pending, according to St. Lawrence County District Attorney Gary Pasqua.

Chun Yan and Cunijan Chen were scheduled to appear in court in Canton the week before the development was reported, but did not attend. They are accused of trying to collect money after a person posing as a Federal Trade Commission employee told the woman she owed the government money.

Pasqua said the charges will remain on file if the men try to re-enter the country. He also said recovering the woman’s money is unlikely.

A similar case is pending in Jefferson County. District Attorney Kristyna Mills said Weifu Cai and Wenping Chen were transferred from the Jefferson County Jail to federal custody after being charged in connection with an alleged scam involving more than $150,000 in gold from a Watertown woman.

The Ogdensburg case began with a March arrest after a sting involving an elderly victim who had paid $50,000. The men were charged with grand larceny, attempted grand larceny and conspiracy. The Watertown arrests took place in August, and the defendants were charged with second-degree attempted grand larceny.

The Federal Trade Commission says it does not threaten people or instruct them to give cash or gold to couriers. People who believe they have been targeted by an impersonation scam can report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and contact local police or the sheriff’s office.

Both cases remain pending. No new court date was provided.