A jury trial is scheduled to begin June 25 in Carroll County Circuit Court for two men accused of participating in a criminal organization and engaging in a theft scheme last year in Finksburg.
The Carroll County Sheriff’s Department arrested Xiang Liu, 32, and Hongdong Liu, 29, on Nov. 17. the two men U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement issued a detainer to keep both in custody after determining there is probable cause to remove them from the United States, pending local charges. Both men are citizens of the People’s Republic of China who have been living separately in New York.
Charging documents state that the men helped defraud a Finksburg woman out of as much as $71,000 in October and November. The woman told officials she was contacted via email by an individual named Logan, who said he was a PayPal employee. The documents state the email advised the woman she owed the financial management company money due to an error with her account.
The woman said she was convinced by Logan to make several trips to her bank to withdraw cash. When she returned home, Logan would arrange for couriers to come pick up the cash she was instructed to place in a wrapped and taped cardboard box, the charging documents state.
While law enforcement officials were investigating the activity by interviewing the woman at her home, she received calls and messages from Logan. Investigators asked the woman to respond and set up another transaction with him. Logan agreed and informed the woman that couriers were on their way to pick up cash from her, the charging documents state.
When the couriers arrived at the woman’s Finksburg home, they were arrested and identified by New York State driver’s licenses as Xiang Liu and Hongdong Liu, the charging documents state.
Authorities later determined neither man has ties to Maryland and both were considered “extreme flight risks,” according to charging documents. They are being held without bond at the Carroll County Detention Center.
Xiang Liu had been living with his aunt in Brooklyn, New York for five years, according to his responses to an initial appearance questionnaire. He is unemployed, single, and the father of two dependent children. He previously worked at a restaurant for two years and was born in China, according to the document.
Hongdong Liu lived in China for 28 years and in Flushing, New York for two months, according to his responses to an initial court appearance questionnaire. He is married, though had been living in a boarding house in Flushing. He was born in China and is not a Maryland resident, according to the court document.
The defense attorney for Xiang Liu, Bradley Bauhof, declined an initial request for comment but said he was open to speaking with media after the trial. The defense attorney for Hongdong Liu, Jennifer Kafes, with the Law Offices of James Crawford, could not be reached for comment.
Melissa Hockensmith, deputy state’s attorney with Carroll County State’s Attorney’s Office, will be responsible for the prosecution.
Reporter Thomas Goodwin Smith contributed to this story.
Contact the reporter at ethan.t.reese91@gmail.com.