Wenhua Zhuo Sentenced to State Prison for Role in Bank Impersonation Scam Targeting an Elderly Victim

Concord, NH - Attorney General John M. Formella announces that Wenhua Zhuo, age 49, of Flushing, New York, has pleaded guilty and been sentenced in the Cheshire County Superior Court for his role in a bank impersonation scam targeting an elderly man.

On July 16, 2024, the Cheshire County Sheriff's Office arrested Mr. Zhuo for attempting to pick up $20,000 in cash from B.B. at his home in Richmond, New Hampshire. B.B. had been falsely led to believe that his bank account had been compromised and that he needed to turn over cash to a courier sent by the bank to protect it. Subsequent investigation revealed that Mr. Zhuo was also the courier who picked up $20,900 in cash from B.B. the day before, on July 15, 2024, pursuant to the same fraudulent scheme.

Mr. Zhuo pleaded guilty to one class A felony charge of attempted theft by deception and one class A felony charge of theft by deception. On the charge of attempted theft by deception, Mr. Zhuo was sentenced to 1½ to 4 years in the New Hampshire State Prison, stand committed. On the charge of theft by deception, Mr. Zhuo was sentenced to 5 to 10 years in the New Hampshire State Prison, with all of the minimum and maximum terms suspended for a period of 10 years following his release from incarceration. The suspended sentence is consecutive to the stand committed prison sentence, if imposed.

As conditions of his suspended sentence, Mr. Zhuo was ordered to pay $20,900 in restitution, with $3,000 due by the date of sentencing. He was also prohibited from working in any capacity with elderly or vulnerable adults and serving as a fiduciary for any person.

The case was investigated by Investigator Calice Couchman-Ducey of the Attorney General's Elder Abuse and Financial Exploitation Unit, Investigator Robert Sullivan of the New Hampshire Attorney General's Office, and the Cheshire County Sheriff's Office. Assistant Attorney General Nancy A. DeAngelis of the Attorney General's Elder Abuse and Financial Exploitation Unit prosecuted the case. Sunny Mulligan Shea assisted as victim/witness advocate.

If you or someone you know has been the victim of elder abuse or financial exploitation, please contact your local police department or the Department of Health and Human Services, Bureau of Adult and Aging Services (1-800-949-0470).