Pham Gets 6 Years: Gun Used in Debt-Collection Scam

SEATTLE, WA – Son Pham, 45, is headed to federal prison for six years after admitting to a sprawling bank fraud scheme and escalating debt collection tactics that involved threatening victims with a firearm. U.S. Attorney Jenny A. Durkan announced the sentence today, bringing a close to a case that exposed a callous disregard for both financial institutions and the safety of individuals.

Pham pleaded guilty in November 2013 to two counts of Attempted Collection of Extensions of Credit by Extortionate Means, one count of Bank Fraud, and one count of Carrying a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence. The charges stem from a conspiracy with Chi Ahn Nguyen to defraud banks, racking up significant debt on credit cards and cash advances with no intention of repayment. The duo exploited the identities of others – many willingly participating – to fuel their scheme, using the ill-gotten gains to purchase jewelry, consumer goods, and to gamble at casinos.

But the fraud wasn’t Pham’s only offense. He also operated a predatory lending operation within his community, extending loans and then resorting to violent threats when borrowers fell behind. The situation turned particularly dangerous in October 2012, when Pham arranged for an accomplice to be armed with a semi-automatic pistol during a confrontation at the Macau Casino in Tukwila, Washington. The target? An associate of someone who owed Pham $10,000. Pham and his cohort surrounded the victim, brandishing the weapon and demanding payment, falsely claiming the associate was responsible for the debt.

This wasn’t an isolated incident. Later that same month, Pham threatened to send enforcers to a victim’s home to inflict physical harm – specifically, to “cut him” – over a $2,000 debt. The brazen attempts to collect debts through intimidation and violence ultimately led to his downfall. U.S. District Judge Robert S. Lasnik didn’t just hand down a prison sentence; he also ordered Pham to pay $115,690 in restitution to cover the losses incurred through the bank fraud scheme.

The investigation was spearheaded by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigation (HSI), highlighting the agency’s commitment to tackling complex financial crimes with violent undertones. Assistant United States Attorney Matthew Hampton prosecuted the case, meticulously building a case against Pham and ensuring he faced justice for his actions.

This case serves as a stark reminder that financial crimes aren’t victimless. They often involve layers of exploitation and, as demonstrated here, can quickly escalate to dangerous and violent confrontations. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on similar instances of fraud and violence in the Pacific Northwest and beyond.