Two men have admitted to their roles in a scheme that defrauded a Carlsbad resident of nearly $1.5 million through bulk gold purchases, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California.
Xilin Sun pleaded guilty to conspiracy to launder monetary instruments, while Alexander Charles James pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud. The pleas were entered in federal court on December 2 and November 25, 2025, respectively.
The case began when a victim reported to Carlsbad police that she had been deceived over several months by individuals pretending to be government officials, bank employees, and tech-support staff. After responding to a pop-up message on her computer warning of a hack, she contacted the scammers as instructed.
Investigators say that once the perpetrators learned about the victim’s savings, they convinced her that she needed to protect her funds by purchasing gold bars and sending them to what was described as a U.S. treasury locker in her name. Over two months, she transferred approximately $1,335,000 via three separate wire transfers to a precious metal business in San Marcos, California. She then picked up the metals and handed them over as directed under false pretenses.
Both Sun and James acknowledged in their plea agreements that they knowingly participated with an organization running technical support scams and impersonation schemes targeting elderly victims across the United States, including within Southern California.
In February 2024, federal agents coordinated with the victim for a sting operation after she was told by scammers to deliver another $100,000 in gold bars. During surveillance, authorities observed James meeting with the victim; after he provided a “secret” word, he received a package purportedly containing gold bars before leaving and meeting Sun. Sun took possession of the package but was later stopped by law enforcement and arrested. He also had a fake California driver’s license and $12,900 in cash sent by another victim.
The investigation involved multiple agencies: the San Diego Elder Justice Task Force (which includes the U.S. Attorney’s Office), FBI, San Diego County District Attorney’s Office, Carlsbad Police Department, San Diego Police Department, and California Highway Patrol.
Sentencing for both defendants is scheduled for February 12, 2025 before U.S. District Judge Barry Ted Moskowitz.
Victims aged 60 or older who have experienced financial fraud are encouraged to seek help from the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-372-8311 or report incidents online at www.ic3.gov or through local law enforcement agencies.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kevin Mokhtari and Francisco Nagel are prosecuting this case.
According to court documents:
– Xilin Sun is 35 years old from Ontario, CA (Case Number 24-cr-1007-BTM).
– Alexander Charles James is 21 years old from Los Angeles, CA (Case Number 24-cr-2607-BTM).
Sun faces up to twenty years in prison and fines up to $500,000 or twice the value involved; James faces up to thirty years in prison and fines up to $1 million.
The public is reminded that charges contained in an indictment or complaint are accusations; defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
