Overview
- Friendswood police say two new arrests followed March 4 search operations in Kingwood, bringing the total to six suspects tied to the scheme.
- All six face first-degree felony theft with an enhancement for engaging in organized criminal activity; two defendants are held on $1 million bonds and four on $5 million bonds.
- Investigators recovered 157 of 177 stolen coins during a Richmond search and found the remaining coins on Feb. 2 at a Missouri City residence tied to the Friendswood case.
- Police identified at least six elderly victims across Texas with total losses of about $2.8 million, including additional cases in Humble, Cypress, Cleburne and New Braunfels.
- Authorities describe a nationwide pattern involving overseas callers and U.S.-based couriers, with FBI data showing $262 million lost in 639 cases in 2025 and separate Fairfield, Connecticut arrests tied to similar tactics.