A Long Beach man accused of conducting a massive identity theft scheme was sentenced today in federal court in Sacramento to more than 12 years in prison.
U.S. District Judge Morrison C. England Jr. sentenced That Tien Truong Nguyen, 34, to 12 years and seven months in prison for conspiring to commit computer fraud and access device fraud, access device fraud, possession of stolen access devices and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
The case resulted from and investigation by the U.S. Secret Service and the Placer County Sheriff's Department.
According to court documents, in 2007, Nguyen ran about 20 websites that resembled financial institution websites to fool customers into divulging their personal information. He then passed the identification information to people who used it to open credit and make purchases.
Analysis of Nguyen's computer showed that he possessed credit cards and complete identities - including names, dates of birth and Social Security numbers - for 38,500 individuals, according to a federal Department of Justice news release.
At the time of this offense, officials said, Nguyen already had convictions for various property crimes and a narcotics offense. Because of these prior convictions, he was not allowed to possess firearms. Law enforcements officers, however, discovered a shotgun in his home when they searched it, according to the news release.
About Comments
Reader comments on Sacbee.com are the opinions of the writer, not The Sacramento Bee. If you see an objectionable comment, click the "report abuse" button below it. We will delete comments containing inappropriate links, obscenities, hate speech, and personal attacks. Flagrant or repeat violators will be banned. See more about comments here.