Viral 'Little Tiger' Scammer Gets 6½ Years in $27M Senior Fraud

SAN DIEGO, Calif. — Jiandong Chen, a Chinese national known as "Little Tiger," was sentenced to 6½ years in federal prison for his part in a $27 million fraud and money laundering scheme that targeted about 2,000 elderly victims across the United States, federal prosecutors announced.

Read the U.S. Attorney's Office release: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdca/pr/chinese-national-viral-youtube-video-sentenced-6-12-years-27-million-multinational

The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of California announced the sentence on November 13, 2026.

The case is No. 24-cr-1317-RSH-02.

Chen is 42 years old and is listed in the release as a resident of Los Angeles, California.

U.S. District Judge Robert S. Huie imposed the 78-month sentence.

India Call Centers, Impersonation Scams, and Cash by Mail

In April 2026, Chen pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and conspiracy to launder monetary instruments, officials reported.

According to the release, members of the conspiracy operated technical support, bank impersonation, government impersonation and refund scams.

Victims received unsolicited phone calls, emails and pop-up ads directing them to call a phone number, according to prosecutors.

Those numbers belonged to scam call centers based in India, officials reported.

Once a victim called, conspirators used social engineering to build trust and then induced victims to send money to members of the conspiracy in the United States, in locations throughout Southern California, Nevada and elsewhere, according to the release.

The money was sent most often as bulk cash in express mail packages, but also as wire transfers, officials reported.

Certain members also did in-person pickups of money directly from victims, according to prosecutors.

A Viral Confrontation, Fake IDs, and $9.5 Million Admitted

In July 2023, Chen was confronted in a viral YouTube video by Ashton Bingham and Art Kulik of Trilogy Media while traveling to a residence in the Los Angeles area to pick up bulk cash from someone he believed to be an elderly victim, officials reported.

Both men attended the sentencing hearing, according to the release.

Chen moved to the United States in November 2022 and was actively participating in the scheme by February 2023, prosecutors reported.

Despite being arrested by local law enforcement in June 2023, his involvement continued through at least December 22, 2023, when federal agents encountered him in Upland, California, attempting to retrieve additional victim packages, according to the release.

In his plea agreement, Chen admitted that his part in the conspiracy involved over $9.5 million in victim loss, that he used fake IDs to retrieve victim packages, and that he frequently relocated to evade law enforcement, officials reported.

Investigators identified over 2,000 elderly victims from throughout the country, including victims in San Diego, who suffered more than $27 million in losses over about two years between 2021 and 2023, according to the release.

The victims were in their 70s and 80s, officials reported.

Chen and his co-conspirators laundered the proceeds through cryptocurrency to transfer funds to foreign-based counterparts, to pay co-conspirators, and to fund travel to retrieve cash packages, including trips to Las Vegas, Nevada, according to prosecutors.

Charges, Maximum Penalties, and the Investigating Agencies

Jiandong Chen: Pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Mail and Wire Fraud (18 U.S.C. § 1349, 2326), which carries a maximum of forty years in prison and a $1 million fine, and Conspiracy to Launder Monetary Instruments (18 U.S.C. § 1956(h)), which carries a maximum of twenty years in prison and a maximum fine of $500,000 or twice the amount laundered.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Mokhtari, officials reported.

"These victims weren't foolish. They were lied to and exploited by a sophisticated criminal network," United States Attorney Adam Gordon said in the release.

"Fraud schemes like this do far more than steal money," Mark Remily, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI San Diego Field Office, said in the release. "Chen played a key role in a sophisticated scheme that targeted vulnerable older Americans and generated millions of dollars in illicit proceeds."

Before imposing the sentence, Judge Huie stated that Chen "engaged in extensive course of conduct in stealing from some of the most vulnerable people here in the United States," according to the release.

The investigating agencies are the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General, Homeland Security Investigations, the San Diego County District Attorney's Office, the San Diego County Sheriff's Department, the San Diego Police Department, and the San Diego Elder Justice Task Force, with assistance from several Southern California police agencies, officials reported.

The sentence closes Chen's case. The release does not announce a separate sentencing date for any other defendant.

Anyone who believes they or an older family member may have been targeted by a phone, email or pop-up scam is urged to report it to the FBI and to local law enforcement before sending any money.

Sources U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of California, Official Press Release No. CAS26-1113-Chen, November 13, 2026: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdca/pr/chinese-national-viral-youtube-video-sentenced-6-12-years-27-million-multinational