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Rhode Island
R.I. man scammed out of $160k helps federal authorities catch an alleged culprit – The Boston Globe
An alert popped up on his computer claiming he was under investigation for trying to buy child pornography and directed him to call a certain telephone number, according to court documents. The man told authorities his call led him to multiple unidentified people, including a person purporting to work in the fraud unit at Citizens Bank, and then another who claimed to be with the US Treasury Department. They spun a tale about a compromised Social Security number and an investigation into money laundering, and convinced the man to hand over thousands of dollars to “government agents” to secure his funds, court documents said.
He was directed to withdraw about $30,000 in cash from his Citizens account and buy $130,000 in gold bars from a Rhode Island precious metals dealer, and turn everything over to a courier who came to his house, according to court documents. He was told not to tell anyone about what was going on.
By mid-September, the man realized he was being scammed and spoke to local police and a special agent with Homeland Security Investigations.
When the scammers demanded $160,000 in gold bars, the federal authorities came up with their own plan with the help of the man and a local gold dealer.
The scammer who claimed to be in Citizens fraud unit instructed the man to wire $160,000 from his account to the gold dealer and said he would direct a “government agent” to come to his house in Narragansett to pick up the gold bars, according to court documents.
Working with law enforcement, the man and the gold dealer pretended to go through with the deal on Wednesday, according to court documents. The owner of the gold shop created a fake receipt documenting the sale of $160,000 and handed the man a box. Law enforcement had created fake gold bars, which were silver bars painted gold. When the scammer from the “Citizens fraud unit” asked the man for proof of the transaction, he texted pictures of the fake receipt and the fake bars, according to court records.
The caller from the “Citizens fraud unit” said he would have a government agent come to collect the goods. A driver in a black Mercedes SUV with a New Jersey license plate soon arrived at the house in Narragansett. The man handed over the box with fake gold bars, and the man in the Mercedes drove away.
Law enforcement had the Mercedes pulled over in Westbrook, Conn., about 40 miles from the Rhode Island state line. The driver was identified as Jirui Liu, 22, from Ontario, Canada. The bag holding the box of fake gold bars was on the floor of the passenger seat, according to court documents.
Through a Mandarin interpreter, Liu told the special agent for Homeland Security Investigations that he’d been in the United States visiting friends and playing poker in Las Vegas and Los Angeles, and was in the area taking “some stuff” back to New York for a guy he knew from a game called “League of Legends,” according to an affidavit supporting a warrant for his arrest. Liu said he didn’t know what was in the box, but that he was supposed to deliver it to some park in New York, according to the affidavit.
Liu is being held without bail after an arraignment Thursday in US District Court in Providence on charges of money laundering, fraud, and two counts of conspiracy. It was not immediately known if he had a lawyer.
Amanda Milkovits can be reached at amanda.milkovits@globe.com. Follow her @AmandaMilkovits.
Why is the flag at half staff? These are possible reasons
The flag of the United States of America is flown at half-staff on several occasions, generally marking that the country is in mourning
On Friday, May 15, flags will be flown at half-staff across the United States to commemorate Peace Officers Memorial Day.
Recognized each year since 1962 as part of May’s National Police Week, the national observance pays tribute to United States law enforcement officials who gave their lives in the line of duty, whether at the local, state or federal level.
“United in gratitude, we recommit ourselves to supporting those who keep the peace in our neighborhoods, and we offer our heartfelt appreciation for the service they render to community and country,” reads a proclamation from President Trump. “Their steady presence brings calm to our streets, their dedication preserves the order that allows our Nation to flourish, and their unwavering vigilance is the reason families across America can rest under the promise of a safer tomorrow.”
In memory of those who made the ultimate sacrifice, the flag of the United States at all public buildings and grounds across the country and its territories – including in Rhode Island – will fly at half-staff from sunrise to sunset on Friday, May 15.
Why are flags flown at half-staff?
According to the official website of the U.S. General Services Administration, flags typically fly at half-staff when the country or specific state is in mourning. Observances include national tragedies, days of remembrance and deaths of government or military personnel.
The president, the state governor or the mayor of Washington, D.C., can order flags to fly at half-staff.
Half-staff vs. half-mast
While half-staff refers to lowered flags on land, half-mast refers to those at sea. Both refer to a flag being flown beneath the top of its staff as a sign of respect.
RI’s Verdi Productions films ‘Bad News On The Doorstep’ in Providence
Verdi Productions wrapped filming of Tom DeNucci’s “Bad News On The Doorstep” early on May 23 in Providence.
Verdi Productions’ secret horror movie, “My Boyfriend is a Demon,” now filming in Rhode Island, is no longer a secret as Chad A. Verdi, the East Greenwich production company’s president, has announced the cast and given an outline of the movie’s plot.
The ensemble cast comprises veteran actors and rising young talents. The story follows Mary, a lonely, small-town girl who creates a fake Instagram account that pretends to be boyfriend, a guy too perfect to be real. Mary puts so much effort into making him “real” that he shows up at her door one day.
The cast includes:
- Mattias Ferrell, son of comic actor Will Ferrell and known for “A Very Jonas Christmas Movie” and “Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues.”
- Coco Arquette, daughter of Courteney Cox and David Arquette and known for “Cougar Town.”
- David Arquette, known for his work in the “Scream” film franchise.
- Rosanna Arquette, David’s sister and Coco’s aunt, known for “The Moment.”
- Bailey Sloan, known for “Ragamuffin.”
- Jack Champion, known for “Avatar.”
- Ever Anderson, known for “Peter Pan & Wendy.”
- Vinnie Hacker, known for “Euphoria.”
- Josephine Reitman, known for “Juno.”
- Savannah Lee Smith, kown for “Tunsel Town.”
- Lisa Yamada, known for “Elle.”
- Ty Law, known for “Friday Night Lights.”
“My Boyfriend is a Demon” is written and directed by first-time director mishka.
“My Boyfriend is a Demon” is filming in Providence
The movie began filming in Rhode Island in April and has rented Providence’s Cranston Street Armory for the month of May to use as a studio.
The producing team for Verdi Productions includes Chad A. Verdi, Chad Verdi Jr., Paul Luba, Michelle Verdi and Sera Verdi. Executive producers include Ketchup Entertainment and Kinolime.
Good morning! Happy Thursday! Today will be pretty unsettled with the chance for showers and t’storms. Friday will still be damp with showers and drizzle, but the weekend still looks amazing!
The one good thing with the rain, for allergy sufferers at least, the pollen levels will be lower. In fact, both today and tomorrow, the tree pollen counts will be low locally. Do expect a spike in the pollen count for Saturday and Sunday with the dry weather.
INTERACTIVE RADAR: Live Pinpoint Weather 12 Radar »
“https://www.wpri.com/weather-now/weather-now-for-thu-5-14-26/” FLIGHT TRACKER
“https://www.wpri.com/weather-now/weather-now-for-thu-5-14-26/” POWER OUTAGES
TODAY
Hour-by-hour forecast for today…
We’ll have some showers around during the morning commute today, but the greatest chance for showers and t’storms will be after 9AM and before 5PM.
Showers and thunderstorms could slow travel around mid-day. Rain could fall heavily at times.
A line of showers and t’storms will be sweeping across the area through the afternoon as a slow-moving weather systems moves through the region.
Highs today will be in the upper 50s to lower 60s with southeast to east winds of 5-15mph.
“https://www.wpri.com/weather-now/weather-now-for-thu-5-14-26/” BEACH AND BOATING FORECASTS
TONIGHT
Showers are still possible this evening; although they won’t be as numerous.
TOMORROW
That low center will be nearby Friday morning, and we’ll be stuck with a damp, cool windflow. Expect drizzle and showers in the morning and possibly some lingering showers in the afternoon.
Highs Friday will only be in the 50s. The average high this time of year is in the upper 60s.
LOOKING AHEAD
Then…there’s the weekend. Saturday looks amazing with lots of sunshine and dry weather. It’ll be warmer, too, with highs in the 70s.
-Meteorologist T.J. Del Santo
T.J. Del Santo (tdelsanto@wpri.com) is the weekday morning and noon meteorologist for 12 News. Connect with him on Facebook and Twitter and Instagram and Threads and BlueSky.
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