United States Attorney's Office District of Connecticut
Press Release

MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO POSSESSING NEARLY $100,000 IN COUNTERFEIT CURRENCY

Kevin J. O'Connor, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that LIEM LE LUONG, age 34, a citizen of Vietnam and a Lawful Permanent Resident of the United States, pleaded guilty today to possessing counterfeit obligations. United States Magistrate Judge Donna F. Martinez accepted LUONG's plea this morning in Hartford.

On February 26, 2004, a federal grand jury sitting in Hartford returned a one-count Indictment against LUONG. According to documents filed with the Court and statements at the court hearing, on December 15, 2003, LUONG was arrested at the Mohegan Sun Casino on the basis of an outstanding arrest warrant for a supervised release violation in the District of Maine. A routine search of his person revealed that he possessed a counterfeit $50 note. A subsequent search of his vehicle revealed 4,377 counterfeit $20 notes and 272 counterfeit $50 notes, totaling nearly $100,000 in counterfeit currency.

LUONG faces a maximum term of 20 years of imprisonment and a fine of up to $250,000 when he is sentenced by United States District Judge Alvin W. Thompson on July 30, 2004. LUONG is also subject to deportation from the United States as a consequence of his conviction.

This case was investigated by agents of the United States Secret Service with assistance provided by the Connecticut State Police. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Deborah R. Slater.

CONTACT:

U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
Tom Carson
(203) 821-3722
thomas.carson@usdoj.gov