Seven New Yorkers have been charged in a $20 million money laundering scheme involving fraudulently obtained gift cards. The scheme targeted approximately 1,800 elderly victims across 45 states, using deceptive pop-up messages and text alerts to coerce them into purchasing gift cards. The suspects used the gift cards to buy home improvement items such as copper piping, water heaters, and steel cables from stores like Lowe's and Home Depot. These items were then resold to plumbing and construction businesses. Surveillance footage captured the suspects purchasing over $3 million worth of goods in Nassau County alone. Home Depot's security team played a key role in identifying suspicious patterns that led to uncovering the scheme. The investigation, led by Nassau County authorities, uncovered 12 box trucks containing $650,000 worth of merchandise, $100,000 in cash, and high-end jewelry. Sky Cunhang Lin, the alleged leader of the group, was seen on surveillance over 100 times and reportedly used 50 gift cards worth $50,000 in a single day. Each of the seven suspects faces charges of money laundering and conspiracy, with potential sentences of up to 15 years in prison. Officials criticized the release of six suspects on cashless bail and are seeking five additional individuals believed to be involved in the scheme. Authorities are also investigating the plumbing supply stores that purchased the resold goods.