On Nov 21 Greenwich Police ORCA plain clothes officers conducting surveillance in the area of Greenwich Avenue were alerted to a vehicle associated with Chinese Organized Credit Card Fraud.
Police said Youqiang Lei, 31, of Flushing, NY; Xiaobing Chen, 42, of Flushing, NY; and Jinchai Lin, 35, of College Point, NY conspired to utilize multiple different credit/debit cards via a tap-to-pay method which bore victim personal identifying information (PII) in an attempt to purchase three Apple iPhones at a Greenwich Avenue stores. (Two transactions were declined.)
Police recognized this pattern as consistent with tactics used by Chinese Organized Criminal Groups (COCGs) involved in identity theft and credit card fraud.
Police said these groups are known to use digital wallets to make unauthorized purchases with stolen payment card information. They noted the same group was in Greenwich weeks earlier displaying the same tactics at various high end retail and jewelry stores.
Police said Youqiang Lei, 31, of Flushing, NY; Xiaobing Chen, 42, of Flushing, NY; and Jinchai Lin, 35, of College Point, NY attempted to enter a nearby getaway vehicle police conducted an investigative detention. On scene interview revealed conflicting and vague explanations compared to witness and investigator’s observations.
Throughout the investigation, police discovered the three had participated in the COCG during multiple incidents over an extended period of time. These incidents ultimately led to the larceny of goods and the identities of multiple victims being stolen. The actions taken by the accused Mr. Lei, Mr. Chen and Ms Lin appeared to lead to the overall financial gain and betterment of the criminal organization due directly to their roles.
Based on the totality of the circumstances, including the suspects’ behavior, method of payment, geographic origin, use of multiple cards, presence of multiple phones, and known COCG methods, investigators established probable cause to believe the trio were engaged in credit card fraud, while being associated with a criminal group with a pattern of racketeering.
Lei was charged with:
Possession Scan/Rencdr with intent Illegal Use
Conspiracy to Commit Pos Scan Rencdr with Intent Illegal Use
Corrupt Org & Racketeering Act
Criminal Attempt Larceny 3
Conspiracy to Commit Larceny 3
Conspiracy to Commit Illegal Possession Personal Id Info Device
Illegal Possession Personal Id Info Device
Payment Card Theft (3 counts)
Conspiracy to Commit Payment Card Theft (5 counts)
>$500 on Revoked Payment Card (3 counts)
Conspiracy to Commit >$500 on Revoked Payment Card (5 counts)
Criminal Attempt/Receipt from illegal Use Credit Card (3 counts)
Conspiracy to Commit/Receipt from Illegal Use Credit Card (5 counts)
Criminal Attempt Identity Theft 3rd degree (3 counts)
Conspiracy to Commit Identity Theft 3rd degree (5 counts)
Criminal Attempt Criminal Impersonation (3 counts)
Conspiracy to Commit Criminal Impersonation (5 counts)
Lei’s bond was set at $250,000 and he was assigned a date in Stamford Superior Court on December 5, 2025.
Mr. Chen was charged with:
Possession Scan/Rencdr with intent Illegal Use
Conspiracy to Commit Pos Scan Rencdr with Intent Illegal Use
Corrupt Org & Racketeering Act
Criminal Attempt Larceny 3
Conspiracy to Commit Larceny 3
Illegal Possession Personal Id Info Device
Conspiracy to Commit Illegal Possession Personal id Info Device
Payment Card Theft (2 counts)
Conspiracy to Commit Payment Card Theft (5 counts)
Criminal Attempt >$500 on Revoked Payment Card (2 counts)
Conspiracy to Commit >$500 on Revoked Payment Card (5 counts)
Criminal Attempt/Receipt from Illegal Use Credit Card (2 counts)
Conspiracy to Commit/Receipt from Illegal Use Credit Card (5 counts)
Criminal Attempt Identity Theft 3rd degree (2 counts)
Conspiracy to Commit Identity Theft 3rd degree (5 counts)
Criminal Attempt Criminal Impersonation (2 counts)
Conspiracy to Commit Criminal Impersonation (5 counts)
Chen’s bond was set at $250,000 and he was assigned a date in Stamford Superior Court on December 5, 2025.
Ms Lin was charged with:
Conspiracy to Commit Pos Scan Rencdr with Intent Illegal Use
Conspiracy to Commit Larceny 3
Conspiracy to Commit Illegal Possession Personal Id Info Device
Conspiracy to Commit Payment Card Theft (5 counts)
Conspiracy to Commit >$500 on Revoked Payment Card (5 counts)
Conspiracy to Commit/Receipt from Illegal Use Credit Card (5 counts)
Conspiracy to Commit Identity Theft 3rd degree (5 counts)
Conspiracy to Commit Criminal Impersonation (5 counts)
Her bond was also set at $250,000 and she was assigned a date in Stamford Superior Court on December 5, 2025.