Police: New York man allegedly demanded gold bars from Silver Spring woman or Russia would take her money

SILVER SPRING, Md. ( DC News Now ) — Police arrested a man from New York for allegedly demanding an 82-year-old woman to transfer her assets into gold bars over to him or Russia was going to take her money.

The Montgomery County Department of Police (MCPD) said 19-year-old Zhenyong Weng, of Brooklyn, N.Y., was arrested for an alleged “government-imposter related gold bar” fraud, and MCPD believes there could be more victims.

Back in May, an “unknown individual” contacted the Silver Spring woman and told her to transfer her assets into gold bars so Russia would not be able to take her money, MCPD said.

She listened and gave the suspect several packages containing gold bars worth over $900,000.

MCPD said on July 15 at around 5:22 p.m., officers arrested Weng in Silver Spring as he was collecting more packages from the woman. That package had over a $70,000 value.

Weng was taken to the Montgomery County Central Processing Unit and is being held without bond.

Anyone with information about this case is asked to call 1-866-411-8477 or submit a tip online .

MCPD reminded residents that law enforcement would never reach out in that manner. For more information about fraud and financial crimes, click here .

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