The United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of California announced that Nhan Le Tran was sentenced yesterday for his convictions in federal court in San Jose relating to a long-term conspiracy to distribute stolen computer chips, and the armed robbery of Oki Semiconductor

The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Court Judge Ware following the conclusion of a two-month trial in 2001.  The defendant was convicted of one count of conspiracy to distribute goods having a value of more than $5,000 in interstate commerce, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 371; one count of conspiring to obstruct commerce and the movement of articles in interstate commerce, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1951; and one count of using and carrying a firearm during a crime of violence, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c).

Defendant Nhan Le Tran and seven other defendants had been charged for their involvement in a conspiracy dating from approximately 1990 to 1995 to distribute computer components which had been stolen in a string of robberies and burglaries of area computer businesses.  After stealing the computer components themselves, or purchasing stolen computer components, they in turn sold the stolen computer components on the gray market at a lucrative profit.  On or about October 31, 1993, the defendants robbed  Oki Semiconductor, a computer chips business located in Portland, Oregon. 

According to evidence at trial, in a carefully orchestrated heist conducted in the middle of the night, they stormed the building with firearms, wearing uniform jump suits and masks.  The security guard was pistol-whipped about the head and shoulders and left lying in a pool of blood; another employee was abducted from the parking lot and kicked in the face until he was unconscious.  The robbers bound and gagged numerous employees who were working the night-shift, before making off with millions of dollars of computer chips.  The robbers dumped their disguises and firearms in a wooded area near the scene of the robbery, and then returned to the San Jose area to distribute the stolen computer chips.  During the trial, the testimony of employees and cooperators, and numerous corroborative details were presented to the jury, in addition to other evidence.  

This case was the product of a long-term investigative effort of the FBI, IRS and the San Jose police department.  Eumi Choi, Adam Braun and Rebecca Hardie are the Assistant U.S. Attorneys who prosecuted the case. 

All press inquiries to the U.S. Attorney's Office should be directed to Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew J. Jacobs at (415)436-7181.