A San Jose, California resident pleaded guilty to mail fraud after targeting thousands of businesses and charities with fraudulent letters that appeared to be from state agencies. The announcement was made by First Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Neil Floyd.
Johnny Q. Nguyen, 50, admitted in court that he sent mass mailings using fake government letterhead during the fall of 2024. These mailings included billing statements instructing recipients to send checks or money orders to a post office box in Olympia, Washington. Victims were told they needed to pay registration and filing fees for their businesses or charities.
Nguyen established a limited liability company named “Business Entities” and asked victims to make payments out to this entity. As a result, thousands of individuals in Washington and California sent checks, cashier’s checks, and money orders. According to court records, Nguyen deposited about 350 checks from Washington victims totaling $82,210 and cashed 60 from California victims amounting to $8,640. Authorities also intercepted an additional 1,711 pieces of mail containing checks and money orders worth $395,295.
Following his indictment, Nguyen was ordered by the court in Northern California to surrender all passports and appear in Tacoma for arraignment. However, on June 24, 2025, he boarded a flight from San Francisco to Taipei en route to Vietnam using a passport he had not surrendered as required by the court order. He was detained in Taipei and subsequently returned to California where he was taken into custody before being released under pre-trial supervision.
Chief U.S. District Judge David G. Estudillo will sentence Nguyen on May 22, 2026. The judge may take into account Nguyen’s attempt to flee when determining the appropriate punishment.
Mail fraud carries a maximum penalty of up to 20 years in prison. Prosecutors have agreed as part of the plea deal to recommend a sentence of 33 months in prison. Nguyen has also agreed to pay $90,850 in restitution.
The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS). Assistant United States Attorney Jehiel I. Baer is prosecuting the case.
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