A woman from the Los Angeles area was arrested this week in New Stanton in connection with a scam reported by a man who was led to believe that he was giving money to a bank in exchange for what he thought was an investment opportunity, according to court papers.
State police said they were notified by agents from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security that the bank the man believed he was giving money to did not exist. He provided a phone number to investigators for a person with whom he had been communicating. Federal agents coordinated the exchange of $200,000 with the person on the phone, according to court papers.
A meeting was set up at a parking lot between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Monday in New Stanton to exchange the money with someone who would arrive in a black Volkswagen SUV, police said. Two undercover state troopers reported giving Yamei Shi, 34, of Monterey Park, California, who was driving the SUV, a duffel bag containing fake money when she arrived shortly after 10 a.m., police said.
Troopers indicated there also is an ongoing federal investigation.
Shi was denied bail. She was being held at the Westmoreland County Prison on charges of corrupt organizations, deceptive business practices, dealing in proceeds of unlawful acts, criminal use of a communication facility, attempted theft and attempted aiding consummation of a crime.
She did not have an attorney listed in online court records. A preliminary hearing is set for Nov. 27.
