Teen Demanded Gold Bars From Elderly Maryland Woman To Keep Russia Away From Her Assets: Police

A 19-year-old New Yorker implicated in a government-imposter-related scam received nearly a million dollars in gold bars from an elderly Maryland woman who sought to keep Russia away from her money, authorities announced on Tuesday.

Zhenyong Weng
Photo Credit: *Montgomery County Department of Police*

Zak Failla

07/16/2024 5:22 p.m.

Brooklyn resident Zhenyong Weng has been arrested for allegedly targeting an 82-year-old Silver Spring woman who reached out to her and allegedly instructed her to transfer her assets into gold bars to keep Russian hands off.

The woman complied, police say, and handed off several packages worth an estimated $900,000 in gold bars.

Shortly before 5:30 p.m. on Monday, July 15, officers from the Montgomery County Department of Police intercepted Weng in Silver Spring when he attempted to collect a package from the woman valued at an estimated $70,000.

Weng was taken into custody by officers working with the Financial Crimes Section and the Violent Crimes Information Center investigators said.

Weng is being held without bond at the Montgomery County Central Processing Unit without bond.

Detectives say that there may be additional victims, and anyone who may have been targeted can contact investigators online or by calling 1-866-411-8477.

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