A Chinese national was arrested for his alleged involvement in a scam that resulted in the theft of over $400,000 from an elderly American woman.

Authorities arrested 23-year-old Xiahezhati Xiaokelaiti for “aggravated theft by deception,” WKRG noted.

Xiaokelaiti reportedly is in the country unlawfully.

Meet Xiahezhati Xiaokelaiti, a Chinese national, who was arrested in Alabama for allegedly scamming a 70-year-old woman out of $400,000 of her life savings.

Xiaokelaiti reportedly came into the United States on a student visa that has since expired. He then posed as a US marshal… pic.twitter.com/dmCwUUI8s6

— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) June 17, 2025

WKRG reports:

Investigators with the Spanish Fort Police Department said the man now in custody is in the country illegally and could be part of an international crime ring.

The woman who fell victim to the scam is a retired educator in her late 70s. When she realized something was suspicious, she went to police for help.

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“Our victim came to us and said that somebody has sent her a letter through text message saying that they were with the Department of Treasury and that she owed a large sum of money for some different foreign transactions that are taking place,” Barber said.

Police said the scammers posed as U.S. Marshals. Over the span of three weeks, the woman met with different people involved four separate times at a local business, handing over more than $400,000 in cash and gold bars.

Chinese national scams elderly Spanish Fort woman out of $400,000 https://t.co/arUbqxPVK4

— FOX10News | WALA (@FOX10News) June 17, 2025

Per AL.com:

Xiaokelaiti, from China, is allegedly in the country illegally after his student visa was revoked, police said.

According to court records, Xiaokelaiti‘s address is based in California but he traveled to Spanish Fort on Friday to meet the victim and obtain $20,000 from her.

Police are still investigating to find others involved in the scam.

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