2 Minnesota men indicted for orchestrating $1 million bank-fraud conspiracy

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Two Minnesota men were indicted Thursday for orchestrating a $1 million bank-fraud conspiracy in the Minneapolis/St. Paul metro area following an investigation conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.

These charges were announced Oct. 23 by U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger, District of Minnesota.

Vinh Xuan Ngo, aka Houng Van Tran, 36, and Norinh Inthonepradith, aka Chau Ngo, 38, are each charged in a 15-count federal indictment with bank fraud, conspiracy, aggravated identity theft and access-device fraud.

According to the indictment, from about December 2012 through February 2014, Ngo and Inthonepradith conspired to defraud several individuals and financial institutions throughout the Twin Cities. The defendants created false identification documents from stolen information and assumed the victims’ identities to gain control over bank and credit card accounts. In addition, Ngo and Inthonepradith opened new bank accounts, conducted transactions, and obtained cash and merchandise through fraud.

According to the indictment, from about January 2013 through June 2013, Ngo and Inthonepradith used counterfeit permanent resident alien cards (green cards) and driver’s licenses to open bank accounts and post office boxes, and to complete applications to reroute the delivery of victims’ mail, including mail related to bank and credit card accounts.

Using victims’ names, identification and bank account information, Ngo and Inthonepradith made more than $46,000 in fraudulent deposits, withdrawals, and transfers at various financial institutions. The defendants also used counterfeit checks and credit cards to purchase about $20,000 worth of merchandise and gift cards at multiple retailers.

Assistant U.S. Attorney John E. Kokkinen, District of Minnesota, is prosecuting this case.

The charges contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.