A25-23820 Fraud Investigation And Arrest (Photo) - 10/15/25
A25-23820
FRAUD INVESTIGATION AND ARREST
OCTOBER 15, 2025
On October 3, 2025, Sergeant Riley McNeal with the Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office was contacted by an elderly male who reported he was the victim of a theft. The subject reported that they had been getting pop-up ads on their computer which appeared to be from Norton Anti-Virus and called what he believed to be representatives of that company. When the victim allowed a subject to access their computer to pay a $350 refund, the suspect then showed banking information indicating $35,000 had accidentally been deposited into the victims’ account.
The victim was told to withdraw $34,000 in cash from their account, then was given instructions to meet a “Norton employee” to return the funds. The victim met with an Asian male at the Sparks Chevron in Lexington. The male subject took the cash and drove away at a high speed. Realizing he had been scammed, the victim was able to get the California license plate for the vehicle. The victim later learned the suspect(s) had moved money from the victim’s savings account and put it into his checking account, to make it look like he had been overpaid.
Sgt. McNeal learned that the vehicle was involved in a similar case being investigated by the Henderson Nevada Police Department. With help from Henderson PD, the vehicle was located at a hotel in Kent, WA. The driver had rented a room under the name of Wushai Weng, age 35, of Monterey Park, California. Cell phone data confirmed Weng was in the area of the Sparks Chevron at the time of the incident, and he matched the description of the suspect caught on surveillance video. Sgt. McNeal was also able to link Weng to a similar theft of $20,000 on October 10, 2025, which is being investigated by Everett Police Department.
On October 13, 2025, Cowlitz County deputies served a search warrant on Weng’s vehicle and his hotel room in Kent, Washington, with assistance from Kent Police Department. Deputies found Weng and other subjects in the hotel room, in possession of tools used to alter credit cards. Deputies also recovered approximately 200 gift cards from Apple, Visa, Mastercard and other companies. Numerous cell phones and other devices were also recovered.
Deputies have determined that in the last ten months, Weng has traveled throughout California, Arizona, Nevada, Washington, Colorado, Idaho, Oregon, Utah and Florida. Multiple investigations are ongoing. Due to the Keep Washington Working Act, deputies are unable to contact Immigration and Customs Enforcement to confirm Weng’s immigration status.
Wushai Weng was booked into Cowlitz County Jail on charges of Theft 1st Degree, Criminal Conspiracy, Money Laundering, Financial Fraud and Credit/Payment Cards – Unlawful Factoring of Transactions. Weng was also served with a warrant out of Henderson, Nevada.
The Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office encourages citizens to check on their elder family members, educate them about these types of financial crimes, and to seek ways to safeguard their funds. The following websites contain further information:
Washington State Attorney General’s Office - https://www.atg.wa.gov/senior-fraud
FBI - https://www.fbi.gov/how-we-can-help-you/scams-and-safety/common-frauds-and-scams/elder-fraud
Troy Brightbill
Chief Criminal Deputy
Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office