Chinese National Sentenced for Gift Card Scam

Zhixiang Chen, a 20-year-old Chinese national, has been sentenced to up to three years in jail for orchestrating a gift card scam at Walmart stores in western Pennsylvania. He was convicted of corrupt organizations and organized retail crime after stealing and altering Apple gift cards to drain their balances, leaving unsuspecting customers with worthless cards. Chen is ordered to forfeit $16,143 and pay a $25,000 fine, in addition to facing deportation proceedings and a ban from all Walmart stores. According to Attorney General Michelle Henry, Chen's criminal enterprise is believed to have profited hundreds of thousands of dollars. Surveillance footage captured him stealing gift cards from at least six Walmart locations, and in May 2024, he was caught attempting to leave a store with 126 gift cards hidden in his jacket, with nearly 4,000 more found in his vehicle. This case highlights the ongoing efforts to combat organized retail theft that impacts both businesses and consumers.