Pierce Co. Man Gets 14 Years for ‘Hit Man’ Plot in Vietnam

A grim tale from the Pacific Northwest unfolds as a Pierce County man faces 14 years in federal prison for plotting to hire a ‘hit man’ to assassinate individuals in Vietnam. Prosecutors say that Long Van Nguyen, 48, of University Place, WA, attempted to contract multiple murders across the globe through an undercover Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agent.

In what authorities describe as a chilling admission of intent to kill, Nguyen confessed in September 2013 to soliciting assassinations. He claimed to have sent $100,000 to his nephew in Vietnam, only for the money to be misused. This led to his desire to have his nephew killed—a plan he intended to execute by hiring an assassin through the undercover agent.

The plot thickened as Nguyen instructed the fictitious assassin to target not just his nephew but also four others. He provided photographs of his intended victims, showing a ruthless determination to eliminate them all. Nguyen was nabbed on July 7, 2012, and has been in custody ever since, according to court documents.

“Nguyen was adamant he wanted these people dead,” Brad Bench, special agent in charge of HSI Seattle, stated. “HSI and Vietnamese authorities had to act fast to save lives.” The cooperation between international law enforcement agencies was pivotal in thwarting Nguyen’s deadly plan.

The case against Nguyen was a collaborative effort between U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the FBI, and the Vietnam Ministry of Public Security. Assistant United States Attorneys Jill Otake and Ye-Ting Woo prosecuted the case with determination. “He committed two very serious offenses,” said U.S. District Judge Robert S. Lasnik at sentencing. “You cannot dismiss this as mere puffery.”

Nguyen’s sentence sends a stark message about the severity of attempting to commit acts of violence against persons in a foreign country and soliciting crimes of violence, underscoring the federal government’s commitment to justice and safety.