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Aug. 14, 2020 By Christian Murray
A Flushing man has been charged with grand larceny and other crimes for buying several luxury automobiles using stolen identification—including stolen documents that belonged to his terminally ill uncle.
Guang Jin, of 38th Avenue, was charged Friday for allegedly using fake identification to buy and lease several luxury vehicles in 2019 and 2020, according to the Queens District Attorney’s office.
The first incident took place on March 9, 2019 when Jin and an accomplice allegedly went to a luxury vehicle dealership in Westbury, Long Island. Jin then used his uncle’s identification and purchased a 2019 Alfa Romeo Guilia and leased a 2019 Alfa Romeo Stelvio.
Jin and his unidentified accomplice drove off the lot with the two vehicles that were valued at more than $46,000 each.
The victim’s son-in-law—who had power of attorney over the affairs of Jin’s uncle—started to receive bills in the dying man’s name. The son-in-law stated that he had never authorized the transactions and noted that Jin was often at the victim’s home prior to the alleged fraud.
Jin’s uncle died in August 2019.
Jin, however, didn’t just use his dying uncle’s identification to acquire cars, according to the charges.
In July 2019 he used the driver’s license of an unknown man and purchased a 2019 Ford Mustang at a car dealership on Northern Boulevard in Woodside. The vehicle was worth $52,000.
Jim repeated the scheme in May 2020 when he used a driver’s license and social security card—bearing the victim’s name—and attempted to buy a Mercedes Benz GLC300. The sales person did not complete the necessary paperwork. However, he was able to use the same fraudulent ID in June to lease a 2020 Lexus NX300.
Police conducted a court-authorized search warrant yesterday at the 38th Avenue home of Jin and Hua Shen, his live-in companion.
Police allegedly recovered more than 250 pieces of personal information related to the victims– and other unnamed people. They included 187 credit cards and 27 photo IDs.
Police also seized more than 40 grams of methamphetamine and an unspecified quantity of heroin.
Jin faces up to 12 years in prison on grand larceny, fraud, drug and other charges. Meanwhile Shen, his companion, was arrested on drug, fraud and other charges and faces 9 years if convicted.
Katz said that her office is targeting scammers.
“We are coming after con artists and crooks who run scams to enrich themselves at the expense of others,” Katz said. “This defendant is accused of stealing his dying uncle’s identity and going on a shopping spree for luxury automobiles. Others were also allegedly victimized…This kind of thievery is inexcusable.”
