Jai Liu allegedly solid COVID-19 vaccination playing cards to promote for revenue.
Division of Justice
A Marine reservist already going through expenses within the 2021 Capitol riot was busted for promoting phony COVID-19 vaccination playing cards — and even distributing some to fellow reservists, federal prosecutors stated Thursday.
Queens resident Jia Liu, 26, conspired with Lengthy Island nurse Steven Rodriguez, 27, to steal and forge COVID-19 vaccination playing cards, promote them for revenue – then destroy actual vaccine doses to cowl up the ruse, the US Lawyer’s Workplace for the Jap District of New York stated.
The scheme resulted in additional than 300 false vax playing cards circulating the group, investigators stated in a information launch.
“As alleged, by intentionally distributing fraudulent COVID-19 vaccination playing cards to the unvaccinated, the defendants put navy and different communities vulnerable to contracting a virus that has already claimed almost a million lives on this nation,” US Lawyer Breon Peace stated in an announcement.
“This Workplace stays dedicated to rooting out and prosecuting these people who threaten our public well being and security for revenue.”
Rodriguez, who labored at a clinic in Hempstead, bought clean vaccination playing cards to Liu who then solid and bought them at a marked-up charge. Rodriguez would allegedly meet the patrons in particular person on the clinic, destroy a vaccine vial after which forge a vaccination card on the spot, prosecutors allege.
The pair additionally entered not less than 70 false data into the New York State database in order that patrons would come up as vaccinated within the state’s on-line Excelsior Move app.
Liu distributed the bogus playing cards to fellow Marine Corps reservists because the US Division of Protection imposed a vaccination requirement for all navy service members, prosecutors stated.
“LIU facilitated the introduction of unvaccinated individuals right into a navy setting that had been constructed to exclude unvaccinated individuals for the protection of troops and the safety of the USA,” stated the indictment, which was unsealed Thursday.
Liu took money by apps like Venmo, with sellers and patrons utilizing code phrases to speak in regards to the playing cards – calling them “Cardi Bs,” “Christmas playing cards” and different names. A transcript of a Could 17 Instagram DM dialogue between Liu and an unnamed co-conspirator reveals the 2 discussing entry to the database.
“It’s full proof?” the opposite particular person asks Liu, based on the transcript.
“for journey/work/college sure,” Liu boasts.
“if you wish to apply for federal job or take federal contracts that makes you signal an acknowledgment assertion that checks your standing within the State system, then I must make an appointment for you with my buddy who will destroy a vial, scan your ID, and provide you with a band-aid.”
Rodriguez and Liu had been because of seem in federal courtroom in Brooklyn on Thursday afternoon. They every withstand 10 years in jail on expenses of conspiring to defraud the US Division of Well being and Human Companies and conspiring to commit forgery. Liu was additionally slapped with a cost of conspiring to defraud the US Division of Protection for distributing playing cards to reservists, the lawyer’s workplace stated.
Liu’s lawyer declined remark to the Related Press.
The Queens resident took half within the siege of the US Capitol on Jan. 6 final yr that disrupted congressional certification of Democrat Joe Biden’s victory over former President Donald Trump within the 2020 presidential election. Liu, who was noticed on surveillance footage contained in the constructing, pleaded not responsible to misdemeanor expenses in that case.
With Put up wires
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