New York Man Charged in Alleged $670,000 Lakeville Swindle; Fake IDs, Additional Checks Found
LAKEVILLE, MN: A New York man accused of traveling to Lakeville to retrieve $670,000 in cashier’s checks sent by an elderly victim of an alleged bank scam is facing a felony charge, as prosecutors say investigators also discovered additional high-value cashier’s checks, multiple suspected fake identification documents, and several cellphones inside the vehicle he was driving.
Hong Zhang, 40, of Maspeth, New York, faces a felony attempted theft by swindle charge in Dakota County involving more than $35,000, according to court records. The case stems from a September 10th investigation by the Lakeville Police Department that began after officers learned an elderly man had allegedly been convinced to overnight two cashier’s checks worth a combined $670,000 to an apparently unoccupied Lakeville home.
Prosecutors have characterized Zhang as a Chinese national with no ties to Minnesota and argued for substantial bail, alleging he came to the state for the purpose of participating in a scheme to obtain hundreds of thousands of dollars from victims.
Daughter Alerts Police After Father Allegedly Falls Victim to Scam
According to the criminal complaint, a Lakeville police officer received a fraud report September 10th from a woman who said her elderly father had fallen victim to what authorities described as a bank scam the previous day. The woman reported that her father had overnighted two cashier’s checks through FedEx to an address in Lakeville. When police were contacted, FedEx tracking information showed the package was out for delivery.
An officer was familiar with the destination and knew the property had recently been sold and appeared to be unoccupied, according to the complaint. Rather than waiting until after the package disappeared, law enforcement began surveilling the Lakeville property as the checks were still making their way to the address.
BMW with New York Plates Allegedly Arrives Near Delivery Address
While watching the property, investigators observed a black BMW X5 with New York license plates park nearby, according to the complaint. Police allege the driver got out of the BMW, crossed the street, and approached the property. The man reportedly looked around the front porch before returning to the BMW.
An officer then stopped the vehicle and identified its driver through a New York driver's license as Zhang. Investigators said they could see another parcel on the BMW's front passenger seat. That package was addressed to the same Lakeville property where the $670,000 package was being delivered, according to the complaint.
Zhang was subsequently questioned at the Lakeville Police Department.
Zhang Allegedly Admits He Knew He Was Retrieving Cashier’s Checks
According to the complaint, Zhang initially told investigators he was in Lakeville to pick up a delivery. Zhang allegedly claimed the delivery was for him despite acknowledging that his name was not written on it. When investigators asked what he believed the packages contained, he reportedly said they contained “company documents and maybe a check.”
Police said Zhang also acknowledged that he had picked up two other packages in Minnesota. During the interview, Zhang eventually admitted that he knew he was picking up cashier’s checks that were not intended for him, according to the complaint. The FedEx package sent by the elderly man was later delivered to the Lakeville address. Investigators said it contained two cashier’s checks totaling $670,000.
The complaint does not detail how the elderly man was initially contacted, what the alleged scammers told him to convince him to send the money, or whether Zhang is accused of personally communicating with the victim.
More Checks, Suspected Fake IDs Found in BMW
Additional allegations disclosed as prosecutors sought bail provide a broader picture of what investigators say they discovered after Zhang was detained. According to a September 11th bail recommendation from the Dakota County Attorney's Office, law enforcement searched the vehicle Zhang had been driving and allegedly discovered several other high-value cashier’s checks.
Authorities also allegedly recovered four New Jersey driver's licenses bearing Zhang's photograph but displaying different names. Prosecutors said the licenses appeared to be fraudulent. Investigators also found four Social Security cards corresponding to the four different names listed on the New Jersey driver's licenses, according to prosecutors. Those cards also appeared to be fraudulent. Investigators also allegedly recovered multiple cellphones from the vehicle.
Court records provided do not specify the dollar amounts of the additional cashier’s checks, identify the people or institutions listed on them, or state whether investigators have definitively connected those checks to other fraud victims. The records also do not indicate whether Zhang faces additional charges related to the suspected fraudulent identification documents. The allegations concerning those items were presented as part of the state's argument regarding bail.
State Sought Bail as High as $1 Million
The Dakota County Attorney's Office requested substantial bail, arguing Zhang presented a significant risk of failing to appear for future court proceedings. Prosecutors requested bail be set at $1 million without conditions or $670,000 with conditions. In its recommendation, the state described Zhang as a Chinese national with no ties to Minnesota and alleged he was in the state “only here to swindle hundreds of thousands of dollars from innocent victims.”
Prosecutors argued that the circumstances of the case, Zhang's lack of ties to Minnesota, and the suspected fraudulent identification documents found in the vehicle made it unlikely that he would appear for future court hearings if released. The state's requested conditions included requiring Zhang to remain in Minnesota unless he received written court approval to leave, surrender his passport, remain law-abiding, attend all future court appearances, and keep the court and his attorney informed of his current address.
The court ultimately imposed lower interim bail amounts than prosecutors requested. On September 11th, Judge Krista M. Marks ordered Zhang held on $500,000 bail or bond without conditions or $250,000 with conditions, according to court records. If Zhang posts the conditional bail amount, he must surrender his passport, remain law-abiding, make all future court appearances, and keep the court and his attorney informed of his current address.
He is also prohibited from leaving Minnesota without written court approval and was ordered to sign a waiver of extradition. As of this writing, Zhang has not posted bail and remains in custody at the Dakota County Jail. His next court date is set for September 24, 2026, at 9 AM in Hastings, Minnesota.
Zhang Agrees to Extradition Waiver
Court records show Zhang executed a waiver of extradition while in custody. Under the waiver, Zhang acknowledged being informed of his right to demand formal extradition proceedings and his right to seek a writ of habeas corpus challenging his detention. He then agreed to waive those proceedings and voluntarily return to Minnesota with law enforcement to answer the pending criminal charge if he leaves the state and is subsequently taken into custody elsewhere.
The extradition waiver, travel restriction, and passport requirement are among the measures imposed to help ensure Zhang's appearance as the criminal case proceeds.
The allegations contained in criminal complaints and other court filings represent allegations by law enforcement and prosecutors and have not been proven in court. Zhang is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Pictured: Hong Zhang. Provided by Dakota County Jail.
