California Man Charged With Stealing Nearly $100,000 from Elderly Neighbor

William Bao Khoa Ly, 26, of Simi Valley, California, is facing felony charges for allegedly draining nearly $100,000 from an 89-year-old man's bank and cryptocurrency accounts.

The scam began in June 2024 when Ly met the elderly victim through a chance encounter. He presented himself as tech-savvy and offered to help with electronic devices.

Ly visited the victim two or three times a week, eventually gaining access to his cellphone PIN and using it to transfer money into cryptocurrency accounts he controlled.

Over 14 months, authorities allege Ly conducted 91 separate transfers totaling nearly $100,000. The victim's bank ultimately recovered more than $50,000.