SALINAS — The Monterey County District Attorney’s Office has announced that 36-year-old Richard Huy Nguyen of Seaside is to spend three years and eight months in jail following his conviction on multiple counts of identity theft and possession of stolen property.
U.S. Postal Inspectors were able to prove that Nguyen played a role in a ring of identity thieves that stole mail and used pertinent information to open unauthorized credit cards and bank accounts. Those cards were then used on various frivolous expenses at retail stores and other businesses.
Nguyen is also alleged to have altered stolen checks to cover the expenses incurred by these false accounts. Checks were deposited at various ATMs throughout the county and synthetic identities were fabricated containing personal identifying information combined with information stolen from victims.
At his trial, Nguyen plead guilty to one count of identity theft, one count of possessing personal identifying information of 10 or more people with the intent to defraud, and one count of possessing a stolen vehicle taken during a burglary in Monterey in January of this year.
Nguyen was pulled over while driving the vehicle and carrying narcotics and other stolen property. He will serve his sentence in county jail instead of prison due to realignment.
Fraudulent activity from June 2015 to March 2016 has been linked to Nguyen. Others involved in the theft ring have been charged and sentenced as well.
