MASON CITY, Iowa – An Illinois man accused of tricking a Cerro Gordo County resident out of more than $200,000 worth gold is pleading not guilty.

Shoaib Mohammed Younus Ahmed, 26 of Charleston, IL, is accused of aiding and abetting in first-degree theft against an old individual.

Court documents state a 78-year-old resident of Clear Lake was contacted in May by people claiming to be from the federal government. The victim was convinced that if they did not buy $245,000 worth of gold bars and then transfer ownership of the bars to the callers, a federal arrest warrant would be issued for the victim.

Investigators say as part of the scheme, Ahmed gave the victim a phony password that supposedly confirmed Ahmed’s identity as a federal agent, then took possession of the gold bars.

A trial

See Full Page