N.J. man admits he picked up gold bars, cash as part of $550K senior scam

A 35-year-old New Jersey man admitted Monday he took part in a scam that tricked four senior citizens into believing their bank accounts had been compromised to get them to hand over more than $550,000 in gold bars and cash.
Andy R. Miqui-Castillo pleaded guilty in federal court in St. Louis to conspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud, the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Eastern District of Missouri said.
The swindlers contacted seniors, saying they represented banks or government agencies and their accounts were being used for illegal activities, prosecutors said. They were told the illegal activity would be stopped if they paid.