A Massachusetts man has been sentenced to up to 20 years for defrauding elderly residents in Michigan, taking over $600,000 in a scheme targeting seniors.
PORTAGE, Mich. — A Massachusetts man has been convicted of defrauding elderly Portage residents of over $600,000, according to the Portage Department of Public Safety (PDPS).
In Oct. 2025, PDPS was notified by the FBI about “a nationwide organized crime ring targeting senior citizens” and defrauding them of large amounts of money.
The FBI identified a possible victim in Portage.
The elderly resident in Portage had already lost over $600,000 over several months. The victim was persuaded to withdraw large amounts of money and hand it to a courier at their home or in public.
Portage detectives communicated with the suspects and arranged another cash exchange. On Nov. 14, 2025, an undercover operation by detectives and officers led to the arrest of a 38-year-old man from Massachusetts. He was identified as Xiao Yu Wang.
Wang was charged with multiple offenses by the Kalamazoo County Prosecutor’s Office.
Detectives then identified a second elderly Portage victim who had been defrauded of $30,000 by Wang on Nov. 12.
Investigators later learned of other victims in West Branch and Warren.
Portage detectives linked Wang to these additional crimes with help from Michigan State Police in West Branch and the Warren Police Department.
Wang was charged and convicted in Losco County for a similar offense.
An accomplice of Wang was convicted in Macomb County for related criminal activity.
Wang was sentenced to three to 20 years in the Michigan Department of Corrections by a Kalamazoo judge on Aug. 17. He was also ordered to pay $447,000 in restitution.
The Portage Department of Public Safety reminds residents to be cautious of unexpected requests for money or personal information. They say to never give cash or information to unknown people and to verify suspicious requests.
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