Pennsylvania man convicted of conspiracy to commit money laundering; harboring, transporting and employing illegal aliens

SCRANTON, Pa. – A Pennsylvania man was convicted May 2 for conspiracy to commit money laundering, harboring, transporting and employing illegal aliens. The conviction is the result of an extensive investigation led by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

Wally Nguyen, 48, of Danville, Pa., was convicted of the charges in federal court. The crimes were committed from January 2004 through January 2008. Nguyen faces up to 25 years in federal prison and a $750,000 fine.

The federal jury also returned a special verdict ordering Nguyen to forfeit $50,000 to the U.S. government, as well as two properties located in Danville that were used to facilitate the crimes.

According to court documents, Nguyen engaged in a conspiracy to promote and conceal the profits of the underlying criminal activity, which involved the operation of a temporary employment agency known as "H&T."

The agency recruited, employed, transported and harbored an illegal work force and provided hundreds of illegal temporary employees to various businesses throughout Pennsylvania over a period of several years.

The HSI-led investigation revealed that Nguyen knowingly provided housing and transportation for the illegal workers and paid the illegal work force in cash on a weekly basis. He also engaged in a scheme to defraud the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the U.S. government of revenue. The scheme included the filing of false Pennsylvania tax documents and the avoidance of reporting requirements.

The U.S. Department of Labor; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General; and the Pennsylvania State Police assisted HSI in this investigation.