BROOKLYN — Three suspects who stole nearly $100,000 in a scam that involved a curse-lifting ceremony, bags of jewelry, and hidden water bottles have been indicted, the Brooklyn District Attorney’s office announced Tuesday.
Defendants Yan Chen, 46, Yacheng Chen, 50, and Yuqub Liang, 57, told their 62-year-old victim her family was plagued with a curse that only a blessing on her $65,000 in cash savings and $20,000 of jewelry could lift, the DA said.
Yan Chen and Liang first approached the elderly Chinese woman on July 29 near Avenue R and East 21st Street in Sheepshead Bay while Yacheng acted as lookout, the DA said.
The two women identified themselves as clairvoyants and warned the victim that her family member would die unless she allowed them to remove the evil spirits from all her valuables, according to the DA.
The woman was convinced to fill a bag with $15,000 she kept in her home, $50,000 she kept in the bank, and $20,000 worth of jewelry that had been stored in a security deposit box and give it all to Chen and Liang for a blessing, the DA said.
Instead, Chen and Liang emptied the bag, refilled it with water bottles, and returned the bag to the woman with the instruction not to open it for several days or risk empowering the curse.
Curiosity won out over fear later that evening. The woman opened the bag to find her possessions were gone and quickly called the police, according to the DA.
The Chens, Liang and another suspect were arrested on Aug. 8 for scamming nearly $500,000 in a similar manner from five unsuspecting women on the Lower East Side and in Sunset Park, Bath Beach and Flushing.
Liang was arraigned in Brooklyn Supreme Court Tuesday, charged with counts of grand larceny and three counts of criminal possession of stolen property, and held on $500,000 bail.
Yan Chen was held on $250,000 bail in August after her arraignment for three counts of grand larceny and three counts of conspiracy, according to court documents.
Chen's attorney Samuel Karliner, told DNAinfo New York that his client was simply practicing her religion by encouraging the women to break the curses on their families and that she did not commit any robberies.
Meanwhile, Yacheng Chen is expected to be arraigned on Sept. 28. for three counts of grand larceny and three counts of conspiracy as well.
"People should be aware of these con men and women trying to swindle them out of their hard-earned money," said Brooklyn District Attorney Ken Thompson.
"I urge those in the Chinese community to warn their vulnerable family members to avoid falling prey to such schemes.”
Yacheng Chen and Yuqub Liang's attorneys were not immediately available to comment on their cases.
