Department of Justice relased the following information on the Santa Ana, CA based crew.
Two Californians Plead Guilty to Money Laundering Conspiracy, Exploiting Elderly Victims
PITTSBURGH, PA – Thien Phuc Tran, 33, and Ton Huynh Bui, 30, residents of Santa Ana, California, pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of money laundering conspiracy. The guilty pleas come as part of an investigation into a wide-ranging criminal conspiracy that involved defrauding victims of their money and subsequently laundering the illicit funds.
Tran and Bui were involved in the money laundering scheme, which targeted vulnerable victims across the United States, particularly the elderly. The perpetrators used various deceitful methods, including computer pop-ups followed by telephone calls from co-conspirators operating out of call centers in India. The victims were tricked into sending their money to bank accounts that Tran and Bui had created using stolen Personally Identifiable Information (PII). The pop-ups, designed to resemble messages from legitimate tech companies like Microsoft, would prompt victims to call a specified number. Once on the call, victims were informed that their identities had been compromised and were coerced into transferring their funds to the designated bank accounts.
Tran was responsible for laundering a staggering $4,247,973.23 in fraud proceeds, while Bui’s involvement amounted to laundering $194,278.45.
Sentencing for Tran and Bui is scheduled for January 24, 2024. If convicted, they could face a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a fine of $500,000 or double the value of the property involved in the transactions, whichever is greater, or both. The actual sentence imposed will depend on the seriousness of the offense and the defendants’ prior criminal history.
The investigation leading to the prosecution of Tran and Bui was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Secret Service. Assistant United States Attorneys Stephen R. Kaufman and Robert S. Cessar are handling the case on behalf of the government.
This case serves as a stark reminder of the risks associated with online scams and fraud, particularly for vulnerable individuals, such as the elderly. It is crucial for people to remain vigilant, exercise caution, and be aware of the tactics used by criminals. By staying informed, individuals can protect themselves and avoid falling victim to financially devastating schemes.
The investigation leading to the prosecution of Tran and Bui was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Secret Service. Assistant United States Attorneys Stephen R. Kaufman and Robert S. Cessar are handling the case on behalf of the government.
This case serves as a reminder of the ongoing risks associated with online scams and fraud, particularly for vulnerable individuals such as the elderly. It is crucial for people to remain vigilant and exercise caution when encountering unsolicited messages or requests for personal information. Heightened awareness of these tactics can help individuals protect themselves and avoid falling victim to financially devastating schemes.