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Six Orange County residents Arrested For Organized Crime
In September 2024, federal authorities arrested six individuals in Orange County, California, in connection with a complex and organized criminal scheme involving identity theft, bank fraud, and fraudulent unemployment benefit claims.
Created An Elaborate Fraud Network
Authorities accuse the defendants of orchestrating an elaborate fraud network that targeted vulnerable systems, including California’s unemployment insurance (UI) program, which became overwhelmed during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as financial institutions through fraudulent applications for home equity lines of credit (HELOCs). The FBI’s Orange County Asian Organized Crime Task Force, a multi-agency operation involving the FBI, local police departments, and federal and state agencies, diligently uncovered this large-scale criminal campaign.
If convicted of all counts, the defendants face decades in federal prison for their crimes, with some, like Bui, facing potential life imprisonment. This case underscores the severity of identity theft and pandemic-related fraud and highlights the importance of coordinated law enforcement efforts in combating organized crime.
The Defendants In The Case
The case includes seven defendants, with authorities arresting six while one remains a fugitive. These individuals face charges across three separate indictments, primarily for their roles in schemes involving identity theft, bank fraud, and fraudulent unemployment benefits claims during the COVID-19 pandemic. As investigators pieced together the case, they linked the defendants to multiple criminal activities, which targeted both financial institutions and public assistance programs. Meanwhile, law enforcement continues its efforts to apprehend the remaining fugitive as the legal proceedings advance.
Tien Vo
Authorities have charged Vo with bank fraud and aggravated identity theft for his role in obtaining fraudulent unemployment insurance (UI) benefits by using stolen identities. Additionally, investigators linked him to a larger scheme that exploited the unemployment insurance system during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The scheme involved filing false claims with the California Employment Development Department (EDD), which manages the state’s UI system. Along with his co-conspirators, Vo used the fraudulent UI debit cards to withdraw approximately $15,650 in benefits.
Crystal Nguyen
Authorities have charged her, like Vo, with multiple counts of bank fraud and aggravated identity theft for her involvement in the fraudulent unemployment benefits scheme. However, she remains a fugitive in the indictment, and law enforcement continues to pursue her arrest.
Thao Nguyen
Authorities have charged her alongside Vo and Crystal Nguyen. Additionally, she played a significant role in the conspiracy to fraudulently obtain and use unemployment benefits during the pandemic, further implicating her in the broader scheme.
Michelle Strange
Her charges are identical to those of her co-defendants, involving participation in the conspiracy to defraud the California unemployment insurance system through the use of stolen identities.
Chien Khang Bui (a.k.a. “Catfish” and “Tommy,” of Anaheim)
Authorities accuse Bui of orchestrating a scheme to fraudulently obtain home equity lines of credit (HELOCs) using stolen identities. His criminal activities allegedly spanned from February 2020 to March 2022. In addition to HELOC fraud, investigators charged Bui with using stolen identities to fraudulently obtain COVID-19 jobless benefits. Furthermore, Bui has an extensive criminal background, which includes prior felony convictions for theft by false pretenses, second-degree burglary, and grand theft, among other offenses. Moreover, he faces additional charges in a third indictment for methamphetamine distribution and illegal possession of firearms.
Nangialey Nick Wardak and Mandy Lynn McGrew
Authorities have charged them, along with Bui, with conspiracy to commit bank fraud and aggravated identity theft. Furthermore, investigators allege that Wardak and McGrew participated in the scheme to fraudulently obtain HELOCs by using the stolen identities of victims, further entangling them in the elaborate fraud operation.
Together, these defendants face serious legal consequences, including significant prison sentences if convicted of the various fraud-related charges against them.
The Indictments Against Them
The case against the seven defendants is based on three separate indictments, each detailing distinct but related fraudulent schemes centered on identity theft, bank fraud, and the misuse of unemployment insurance (UI) benefits, among other crimes.
Each indictment showcases a complex web of fraudulent activities, all involving the exploitation of stolen identities for personal financial gain. These charges reflect the seriousness of the crimes, with potential prison sentences reaching up to life imprisonment for Bui due to the drug-related charges.
The First Indictment
The first indictment, returned on June 12, 2024, involves four defendants: Tien Vo, Crystal Nguyen, Thao Nguyen, and Michelle Strange. This indictment includes 31 counts, primarily focused on a scheme to fraudulently obtain unemployment benefits from the California Employment Development Department (EDD).
The EDD was responsible for administering the state’s UI system, including Pandemic Unemployment Assistance benefits authorized by Congress during the COVID-19 pandemic. The defendants allegedly filed false UI applications using stolen identities to obtain debit cards from EDD.
They used these cards to withdraw unemployment benefits, totaling approximately $15,650. As a result, authorities have charged all four defendants with 22 counts of bank fraud and two counts of aggravated identity theft. Additionally, Vo faces an extra charge for possession of unauthorized access devices after investigators found him in possession of fraudulently obtained debit cards through identity theft.
The Second Indictment
The second indictment, returned on August 7, 2024, involves three defendants: Chien Khang Bui, Nangialey Nick Wardak, and Mandy Lynn McGrew. This indictment centers on a sophisticated scheme to defraud banks by using stolen identities to fraudulently apply for home equity lines of credit (HELOCs).
The defendants stole personal identifying information, such as debit card numbers, bank account numbers, and home addresses, which they then used to apply for HELOCs with a mortgage-lending company. They falsely claimed to own the homes used as collateral in these applications, ultimately obtaining approximately $502,806 in fraudulent loans.
Authorities have charged the three defendants with conspiracy to commit bank fraud and aggravated identity theft. Additionally, they charged Bui with bank fraud for his role in fraudulently obtaining unemployment benefits using stolen identities, further implicating him in the wider scheme.
The Third Indictment
The third indictment, also returned on August 7, 2024, involves only Chien Khang Bui and focuses on drug and firearms charges.
Authorities have charged Bui with two counts of methamphetamine distribution related to incidents in December 2022 and February 2023. In addition, they charged him with unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition due to his prior felony convictions, which legally prohibit him from owning firearms. These prior convictions, including multiple instances of theft, identity theft, and grand theft in Orange County, further underscore his extensive criminal background.
The Investigation Into Crime Organization
The FBI’s Orange County Asian Organized Crime Task Force led the investigation into this organized criminal campaign. As a collaborative law enforcement team focused on dismantling organized crime in the region, the task force played a crucial role in uncovering the fraud schemes central to the case.
What Agencies Make Up The Task Force
The task force includes multiple agencies, such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Santa Ana Police Department, the Westminster Police Department, the California Department of Justice – Bureau of Gambling Control, the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, the California Employment Development Department (EDD), and the United States Department of Labor – Office of Inspector General. Each of these entities contributed unique expertise to the investigation, combining resources to comprehensively tackle the widespread fraud.
A Surge In Fraudulent Claims
Law enforcement agencies initiated the investigation after noticing a surge in fraudulent claims targeting California’s unemployment insurance (UI) system. This system was especially vulnerable due to the increased benefits distributed during the COVID-19 pandemic. The state’s Employment Development Department (EDD), overwhelmed by the unprecedented volume of applications, quickly became a prime target for fraudsters. Seizing this opportunity, the defendants exploited the vulnerability by using stolen identities to apply for unemployment benefits, among other crimes.
Bank Also Began to Report Fraud
Law enforcement officials, particularly those in the FBI’s organized crime unit, were also alerted to unusual financial activity through financial institutions. The defendants in the case, particularly Chien Khang Bui and his co-conspirators, used stolen identities to apply for home equity lines of credit (HELOCs) and submitted false loan applications using the personal information of their victims. This prompted a closer look by financial fraud investigators.
How They Linked Everything
The organized crime task force, through a combination of financial analysis, forensic investigations, and traditional law enforcement tactics, was able to link the fraudulent unemployment claims and financial crimes to the individuals involved. The task force’s methodical approach unraveled the extensive fraud network, leading to the federal indictments. Their investigation not only exposed the schemes but also highlighted the broader issue of pandemic-related fraud, showcasing the importance of cooperation between local, state, and federal agencies in combating complex, multi-faceted crimes.
If Convicted Of All The Charges
If convicted of all the charges outlined in the indictments, the defendants in this case face significant and severe legal penalties, reflecting the gravity of the crimes committed, which include bank fraud, aggravated identity theft, methamphetamine distribution, and unlawful possession of firearms.
Bank Fraud
For the bank fraud-related charges, each count carries a statutory maximum sentence of up to 30 years in federal prison. Bank fraud is considered a serious financial crime, particularly when it involves large-scale schemes like those in this case, where the defendants allegedly stole identities to fraudulently obtain unemployment insurance benefits and home equity lines of credit (HELOCs). The scale of the financial damage caused by the fraudulent HELOC applications, which amounted to more than $500,000, and the exploitation of California’s unemployment system during the COVID-19 pandemic further heighten the severity of potential sentences.
Aggravated Identity Theft
In addition to bank fraud, the defendants are also charged with aggravated identity theft, which carries a mandatory consecutive sentence of two years in federal prison for each count. This means that any sentence imposed for identity theft must be served in addition to the sentence for bank fraud, adding significant time to their prison terms. The crime of aggravated identity theft is treated with particular severity because it involves stealing and misusing another person’s identity for financial gain, often leaving the victims with long-lasting consequences.
Unlawful Possession Of Firearms And Distribution of Methamphetamine
Specific defendants face even harsher penalties for other charges. For instance, Chien Khang Bui, one of the central figures in the second and third indictments, is charged with methamphetamine distribution and unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition. The methamphetamine distribution charges carry a statutory maximum sentence of life imprisonment, given the dangerous nature of drug trafficking and its impact on public safety. Bui’s criminal history, which includes prior felony convictions, adds further weight to the charges of illegal firearm possession, for which he could face up to 15 years in federal prison.
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