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Viera, FL — Dongdong Ye and Mei Mei Dong, a well-known couple in the Rockledge and Viera community and owners of the popular sushi restaurant Da Sushi, are facing serious criminal charges in Wisconsin connected to an alleged multi-state gift card scam that targeted elderly victims.

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In February, authorities in Waukesha County, Wisconsin issued arrest warrants for both Ye, 38, and Dong, 36, charging them with theft by false representation over $10,000, a felony that carries a potential sentence of up to six years in prison if convicted.

According to a criminal complaint filed in Waukesha Circuit Court, a 76-year-old Elm Grove man reported being scammed after a pop-up message on his computer instructed him to call a tech support number. The man was convinced to purchase and hand over gift card information worth $4,300 from Lowe’s and Home Depot, and then wire $10,000 to a California bank account. Police later traced the use of those gift cards to a Lowe’s in Rockledge, Florida—where store surveillance allegedly captured Dongdong Ye using them to purchase a six-person golf cart. Some of the cards were also used at a Home Depot in Canada.

Investigators identified Ye through store video footage that showed sleeve tattoos, including a rose flower tattoo on his arm, which matched public caricatures of the chef at Da Sushi. A white Lexus SUV captured on video also matched a vehicle registered at the couple’s Rockledge address.

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Further investigation revealed that the same bank account involved in the scam had received other suspicious deposits totaling tens of thousands of dollars from victims in Ohio and Michigan. One elderly woman reported losing $75,000 in a nearly identical scheme, while another Ohio resident lost $25,000. The gift card scam appears to have impacted victims across multiple states and involved both wire fraud and physical purchases at stores in Florida and Canada.

A fugitive warrant for arrest was formally issued for the couple in Brevard County on June 26, 2025. Court records confirm that he is currently involved in extradition proceedings. He is listed as both the registered agent and manager for several businesses in Brevard County, including:

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• Da Sushi Inc. (Rockledge)
• Da Sushi Island Inc. (Merritt Island)
• DM Island Real Estate LLC (newly registered in January 2025)

The couple recently acquired the former Molly’s Seafood property at 1580 E Merritt Island Causeway and appear to be preparing to launch their new restaurant venture, Da Sushi Island, at that location. The business filings and real estate records list both Ye and Dong at Rockledge addresses.

Ye’s Facebook page confirms his association with Da Sushi and lists Rockledge as his residence. His wife, Mia Dong, is also listed as a co-owner of the restaurant and appears under her legal name, Mei Mei Dong, on business documents. The couple is originally from Fuzhou, Fujian, China, and are active in the local business community.

Despite their prominent presence in Rockledge and Viera, the criminal complaint paints a different picture—linking them to a sophisticated scam operation that preyed on elderly victims using common tech support fraud tactics.

The case is still under active investigation. Additional charges from other jurisdictions may follow as more victims come forward.

Editor’s Note: If you or someone you know has been contacted by someone requesting gift cards or wire transfers in exchange for tech support or services, report it immediately to local law enforcement or the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov.

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