Zhenyong Weng / Photo courtesy MCSAO
Zhenyong Weng, 19, of New York, pleaded guilty Tuesday in a gold bar scam targeting an 82-year-old.
According to court documents, the scam resulted in the theft of more than $900,000 and an attempt to steal another $2,500,000.
Weng faces a maximum of 20 years in prison, according to the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office (MCSAO). Sentencing is scheduled for Thursday.
He pleaded guilty to attempted theft and conspiracy to commit theft of more than $25,000 to under $100,000. Weng opted to enter the guilty plea rather than face a jury trial, according to MCSAO.
“The Maryland State Sentencing Guidelines for non-violent, white-collar crime are typically low and were not designed to deal with international organized crime. The guidelines for this defendant call for a sentence of probation to six months in jail. Due to the complexity of the Gold Bar Scam cases and the vulnerable nature of the 82-year-old victim, the State will be seeking a sentence that far exceeds the sentencing guidelines and reflects the seriousness of these offenses,” County State’s Attorney John McCarthy said in a written statement.
