Crime

Fourth Man Pleads Guilty in Credit Card Fraud Scheme

CrimeJan 17, 2017

Fourth Man Pleads Guilty in Credit Card Fraud Scheme

Thung Van Huynh and his co-conspirators used counterfeit driver’s licenses to apply for credit and purchase luxury watches at jewelry stores across the country.

Williamsport, Pa.--One of the four men accused of using counterfeit driver’s licenses to apply for credit and then purchase luxury watches at jewelry stores across the country has pleaded guilty.

Thung Van Huynh, 47, of Garden Grove, California, entered his plea Jan. 11 before Judge Malachy Mannion of U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania. He pleaded to one count of the indictment that charged him and three other men with conspiring to commit wire fraud and bank fraud, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Huynh had been detained and detention was continued pending sentencing, the office said. He faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine.

Van Huynh and three other men used counterfeit California driver’s licenses to submit applications for loans and credit, and then would use that credit to buy, or attempt to buy, Rolex, Breitling and Omega watches.

They targeted more than 40 jewelry stores throughout the United States. The value of the watches obtained through fraudulent means totaled approximately $528,614.

The men also stole the identities of 25 individuals and defrauded five financial institutions.

Victim stores include two in State College and one in Camp Hill, Pa., which lie within the jurisdiction of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania.

The other defendants in the case--Phil Nguyen, John Quangchoang Nguyen and Tung Than Doan--previously entered guilty pleas and are awaiting sentencing. The date of sentencing is not known at this time.

Brecken Branstratoris the senior editor, gemstones at National Jeweler, covering sourcing, pricing and other developments in the colored stone sector.

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