LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WAVE) - A judge has decided a Chinese national charged with taking part in a gift card tampering scheme in Louisville will soon be deported.

A Jefferson County grand jury had previously indicted Tianlong Chen and four other men for operating a criminal syndicate and attempting to steal $1 million.

The recommended sentence for Chen was between zero to six months in prison, but because he had been in custody for almost a year already, the judge sentenced him to time served, and instead, he’ll be sent back to ICE custody and deported to China in 15 to 30 days.

Chen is one of four Chinese nationals accused of placing altered gift cards at the Kroger store in St. Matthews. Police say, in October 2024, they saw Chen placing gift cards on the rack at the Hubbards Lane Kroger.

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