July 14, 2003
The United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of California announced today that Phuoc Xuan Ngo was sentenced today 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 today following the conclusion of a two-month trial in 2001. 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 Phuoc Xuan Ngo and seven other defendants had been charged for their involvement in a conspiracy dating from approximately 1990-1995 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. In a carefully orchestrated heist conducted in the middle of the night, they stormed the building with firearms, and 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.
Judge Ware sentenced Phuoc Xuan Ngo to a total of 168 months of imprisonment. Six other defendants were previously sentenced: Nhan Le Tran to 322 months of imprisonment; Trai Duc Ngo to 195 months of imprisonment; Tinh Huy Nguyen to 272 months of imprisonment; Long Hoai Thanh to 248 months of imprisonment; Quoc Thanh Nguyen to 169 months of imprisonment; and Dzung Quoc Anh Nguyen to 157 months.
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.
A copy of this press release and related court documents may be found on the U.S. Attorney's Office's website at www.usdoj.gov/usao/can.
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.
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