NORTHVILLE TOWNSHIP, Mich. – A California man is accused of using more than 40 different stolen credit card numbers and making more than 60 attempted transactions at stores across Metro Detroit in a “sophisticated” tap-to-pay identity theft scheme, officials said.
Jian-Wei “Juan” Li, 40, of Hayward, California, has been charged with three counts of identity theft.
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Li was arrested on Nov. 18, 2025, after a surveillance operation by the Michigan Attorney General/Michigan State Police Focused Organized Crime Enforcement (FORCE) Team and the Northville Township Department of Public Safety.
Authorities began an investigation on Nov. 11, when they received a report that a suspect, believed to be Li, had been involved in dozens of tap-to-pay schemes at Meijer stores.
These fraudulent transactions date back to May 2025.
“Investigators determined that Li was participating in a tap-to-pay scheme involving organized groups who load stolen or compromised U.S. credit card accounts into mobile payment platforms such as Apple Pay, Google Pay and Samsung Pay,” according to a release from the Northville Township Police Department.
Li allegedly used the stolen credit card information to buy Apple devices, gift cards and other “easily resold” products.
After purchasing these items, he shipped them out of state or country, according to police.
Investigators learned that Li was staying at a Metro Detroit hotel and driving a 2019 Mercedes SUV.
They surveyed Li for three days, and said that over that period, he attempted more than 60 transactions using more than 40 different credit card numbers.
Li is accused of making these transactions at Meijer, Best Buy, Speedway, Lululemon, Macy’s, Home Depot and Trader Joe’s locations across Metro Detroit.
On Nov. 18, police arrested Li as he was leaving a Best Buy store.
Authorities executed a search warrant at his hotel room, and found a large amount of gift cards, receipts for iPad purchases and documents of declined transactions.
Li was arraigned on Thursday, Nov. 21, and issued a $100,000 cash bond.
He is scheduled to appear in court again on Dec. 1, 2025, for a probable cause conference. A probable cause conference is a procedural hearing where the prosecution and defense can discuss the case and set future dates.