Bay Area fraud scheme allegedly victimized hundreds

(KRON) — A Sacramento resident who authorities said defrauded hundreds of victims over several years was arrested last week following a Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office investigation.

According to the sheriff’s office, the investigation began months ago when a felony warrant arrest was made in eastern Santa Rosa. Evidence of check fraud was uncovered during the arrest, “which led to the identification of several local suspects, including Anh Phan and Nguyet Nguyen from Sacramento,” SCSO said.

In the scheme, Phan and Nguyen allegedly manufactured and distributed counterfeit United States Postal Service mail keys to a ring of Bay Area suspects. The ring would then steal mail and deliver it to Phan, authorities said.

“He then used stolen checks and credit/debit cards to commit fraud,” the sheriff’s office said. “This involved creating fake identities, complete with forged documents, for others to cash checks or use cards until they were canceled.”

Phan is accused of stealing tens to hundreds of thousands of dollars in the scheme.

On April 17, search warrants were served at Phan’s and Nguyen’s residences in Sacramento. Detectives said they recovered hundreds of pieces of stolen mail, personal checks and fraudulently created credit cards.

Phan and Nguyen were arrested at a Sacramento-area casino and booked into the Sonoma County Jail. Phan posted $150,000 bail and Nguyen posted $100,000 bail, authorities said.