A Chinese national living in central Florida has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud for her role in an elder fraud scheme that targeted retirees across the state, federal prosecutors announced.
Xin Liu, 40, of Apopka, Florida, admitted in federal court in Gainesville to working with a China-based conspirator and others to defraud elderly victims through fraudulent phone calls and electronic messages. Liu was in the United States on an H-1B visa at the time of the crimes, according to court records.
Liu’s role in the scheme was to act as a courier — driving to locations throughout Florida to pick up packages of cash from victims and deliver them to other conspirators. Between July 22 and July 30, 2025, she made at least six such trips, collecting or attempting to collect more than $95,000, prosecutors said. Among the victims was a resident of an assisted living apartment complex for seniors in Gainesville. Liu personally verified the contents of each cash package and was compensated with a portion of the fraud proceeds, according to court records.
Her actions caused substantial financial hardship to at least one victim, prosecutors said.
Liu faces up to 20 years in federal prison. Sentencing is scheduled for June 16, 2026, before Chief U.S. District Judge Allen C. Winsor in Gainesville. At the conclusion of her sentence, she is expected to be transferred to immigration authorities for deportation proceedings.
The case was investigated by the FBI, the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation division and the Gainesville Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Hapner is prosecuting the case.
U.S. Attorney John P. Heekin said elder fraud is a “devastating crime” that is growing increasingly common as fraudsters prey on vulnerable retirees. He said his office would “aggressively prosecute every member of these fraud schemes” to achieve justice for victims.
Authorities urged anyone age 60 or older who has experienced financial fraud to contact the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311), a Justice Department resource managed by the Office for Victims of Crime. The hotline is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET and offers assistance in English, Spanish and other languages. Elder fraud complaints can also be filed with the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov or by calling 877-FTC-HELP.
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