Chinese national sentenced in Rhode Island for role in international fraud scheme

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) – A Chinese national who overstayed a student visa was sentenced in Rhode Island for participating in an international fraud ring.

United States Attorney Zachary Cunha reports that Fangzhou Qian, 29, targeted individuals in several states, including Rhode Island and Massachusetts, as part of the scheme.

Authorities say Qian acted as a courier to collect cash from fraud victims and was found to be in possession of more than 2,000 gift cards from various stores across New England.

Qian was arrested in Portsmouth, R.I. and pleaded guilty on Nov. 15, 2023, to a charge of conspiracy to commit offenses against the United States. 

He was sentenced to time served – about seven months – and one year of federal supervised release.