Thung Van Huynh, Wire Fraud, Bank Fraud, Identity Theft, Pennsylvania 2015

WILLIAMSPORT – In a brazen scheme to defraud banks and jewelry stores across the country, three California men have been indicted on federal charges of wire fraud, bank fraud, and identity theft. Thung Van Huynh, 46, Tung Thanh Doan, 48, and John Quangchoang Nguyen, 55, allegedly used counterfeit California driver’s licenses to purchase and attempt to purchase Rolex, Omega, and Breitling watches from victim jewelry stores in the United States.

According to the indictment, the conspirators submitted fraudulent applications for loans and credit, totaling approximately $463,400, using the counterfeit driver’s licenses. The victims include 25 individual identity theft victims and five financial institutions, including a jewelry store in State College and another in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania.

The indictment alleges that the watches are valued at approximately $528,614. The conspirators used the counterfeit driver’s licenses to make the purchases and obtain the loans and credit.

Thung Van Huynh and John Quangchoang Nguyen were residents of Garden Grove, California, and Tung Thanh Doan was a resident of Stanton, California. The indictment was unsealed on November 12, 2015, following the arrests and initial appearances of Huynh and Doan before U.S. District Court Judge Malachy E. Mannion. Nguyen’s initial appearance was held on February 9, 2016.

Another alleged participant in the conspiracy, Phil Nguyen, was previously indicted and entered a guilty plea to wire fraud. He is awaiting sentencing before United States District Judge Malachy E. Mannion in Scranton.

The federal investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with the assistance of the Police Departments of Patton Township and Hampden Township, and the Jeweler’s Security Alliance. Assistant United States Attorney George J. Rocktashel has been assigned to the prosecution of the case.

Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the sentencing judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

The maximum penalty under federal law is 30 years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the sentencing judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant's educational, vocational and medical needs.

For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdpa/pr/three-california-men-indicted-nationwide-conspiracy-commit-identity-bank-and-wire-fraud