On Wednesday, November 25 an El Monte man was arrested on suspicion of defrauding a Bank of America customer of $46,866 at the San Manuel Indian Bingo and Casino in Highland, California.
A Bank of America fraud investigator contacted detectives at the Sheriff’s Central Station on Monday, November 23, 2015 to report a theft. According to the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department, investigators at the bank were alerted to an identity theft credit card fraud that occurred at the San Manuel Indian Bingo and Casino in May of 2015.
Using the victim’s stolen banking information and identity, over a five day period the suspect made numerous cash withdrawals from the customer’s savings and home equity line of credit totaling $46,866. The bank customer reported the theft.
Assisted by fraud investigator from the Bank of America and San Manuel Tribal Gaming Commission investigators, 37-year old Vinny Hoai Nguyen of El Monte was identified as a suspect by detectives.
An arrest warrant was issued for Nguyen on the morning of Wednesday, November 25, 2015. Nguyen was contacted by detectives at his El Monte home. Also in the residence when detectives arrived was Nguyen’s girlfriend, 37-year old Quynhnhu Nguyen.
After obtaining a search warrant for the El Monte residence of Nguyen, a search of the home was conducted by detectives. During the search detectives located dozens of stolen identification cards, several laptop computers, numerous credit card manufacturing devices, credit cards by the hundreds all in various stages of being altered, numerous altered checks, and $8,300 in one hundred dollar bills.
Detectives arrested Vinny and Quynhnhu Nguyen and they were transported to the Central Detention Center in San Bernardino. There they were both booked for a great number of felony identity theft related crimes. Victims of the crimes include the Bank of America customer as well as numerous other Southern California residents.