The Charlestown Police Department has arrested a man involved in a widespread scam that targeted elderly citizens in several states and resulted in hundreds of thousands of dollars in losses. On May 5, 2025, an elderly Charlestown resident was tricked into withdrawing $27,000 from his retirement account and handing it over to a man who came to his home. The suspect took the money and left.
Charlestown Detectives—Detective Sergeant Trey Crace and Detective Major Jason Broady—launched an immediate investigation. They identified the suspect as Jia Hua Liu, 36, a Canadian citizen who entered the U.S. in April. As the investigation unfolded, detectives discovered that Liu was connected to similar fraud cases in Indiana, Ohio, New Mexico, and Tennessee, with total losses estimated at over $309,000.
Police also identified three more elderly individuals—in Indiana, Kentucky, and Michigan—who were nearly victimized. In these cases, concerned family members intervened just in time, preventing an additional $70,000 in potential losses.
Based on the evidence, the Clark County Prosecutor’s Office filed multiple felony charges, including theft, fraud, conspiracy, and money laundering. An arrest warrant was issued by Clark Circuit Court #1.
On July 2nd, Detectives learned that Liu was at Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport, preparing to catch a departing flight. With help from the Louisville Regional Airport Authority, Liu was arrested at the airport without incident.
Search warrants for Liu’s vehicle and luggage revealed a large amount of cash. So far, investigators have served around twenty search warrants and five subpoenas, and the case remains active and ongoing.
“This arrest is the result of tireless work by our detectives and strong cooperation between agencies,” said Chief Eric Kruse. “We’re committed to protecting our elderly community members and bringing those who prey on them to justice.”
If you or someone you know has been targeted by a similar scam, please contact the Charlestown Police Department immediately. Our investigation is ongoing and we know there are additional victims out there; likely in Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, Illinois, Georgia, Alabama and Tennessee. We want to identify these victims and help them receive justice.
All suspects are presumed innocent until convicted in a court of law.