A brazen act of harboring a fugitive has landed a Minnesota man in hot water. Jay Anthony Tapper, 56, of Rosemount, Minnesota, pleaded guilty to one count of harboring a fugitive on May 13, 2025, in federal court in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
According to investigators, Tapper knew of a federal warrant outstanding for the arrest of Mary Kate Nguyen in August and September 2022. Tapper chose to defy the law by harboring and concealing Nguyen during those two months, all in an effort to prevent her discovery and arrest on then-pending felony charges.
U.S. Marshals ultimately apprehended Nguyen, who was sentenced to ten years’ imprisonment on fraud and contempt charges in January 2025. Tapper, on the other hand, remains free on bond pending sentencing.
The maximum sentence Tapper faces is five years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release following any imprisonment. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Timothy L. Vavricek and investigated by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation-Special Enforcement Operations Bureau.
The investigation into Nguyen’s crimes was a collaborative effort involving multiple law enforcement agencies, including the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Investigation, Woodbury (Minnesota) Police Department, U.S. Marshal’s Service, Sioux County Sheriff’s Office, Iowa State Patrol, Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Alcohol and Gambling Enforcement, and Iowa Division of Intelligence.
Tapper’s sentencing will be set after a presentence report is prepared. As the case unfolds, one thing is clear: harboring a fugitive is a serious offense with severe consequences.
The case file numbers are 25-CR-4024 (Tapper) and 21-CR-3037 (Nguyen). For more information, visit https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
Key Facts
- State: Iowa
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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