ICE removes Vietnamese national wanted for swindling

ATLANTA — A man accused of swindling more than $14 million from victims in his native country was returned to Vietnam Monday by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) and turned over to authorities for prosecution there.

According to criminal charges filed against him in December 2010, Nga Van Huynh, 47, unlawfully married an American citizen for the sole purpose of gaining status in the United States, and then petitioned the government to adjust his status to a permanent resident based on the sham marriage. Huynh successfully gained conditional residency until INTERPOL Vietnam contacted INTERPOL Washington, D.C. for assistance in finding him.

Special agents from ICE's Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Atlanta office opened an investigation in March and successfully pursued marriage and visa fraud charges. Huynh pleaded guilty to making a false statement on an immigration document in April, was sentenced to time served and agreed to depart the United States as part of the conviction.

"Fugitives from justice will find no welcome in the United States; we will find them wherever they choose to hide," said Felicia Skinner, field office director of ERO Atlanta. "The teamwork by HSI and ERO offices demonstrates a commitment to uphold public safety." Skinner oversees ERO activities in Georgia and the Carolinas.

Since Oct. 1, 2009, ERO has removed more than 640 foreign fugitives from the United States who were being sought in their native countries for serious crimes, including kidnapping, rape and murder. ERO works with HSI's Office of International Affairs, foreign consular offices in the United States and INTERPOL to identify foreign fugitives illegally present in the country.