Johnny Q. Nguyen, a 49-year-old resident of San Jose, California, is now facing serious federal charges after being accused of tricking thousands of people into sending him money through a fake business scheme. According to an indictment unsealed by Acting U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller, Nguyen sent out thousands of official-looking letters pretending to be from government agencies.
These mailings were actually scam letters. They told business owners and nonprofit organizations that they needed to pay registration or filing fees for their companies. The letters used fake government letterhead to appear real and instructed recipients to mail their payments—usually checks or money orders—to a post office box in Olympia, Washington.
Nguyen had created a fake business entity called “Business Entities” to collect the payments. Victims were told to make checks payable to this company. Believing it was a government requirement, thousands of people sent in their payments. In Washington alone, investigators found that at least 350 victims mailed checks totaling $82,210. In California, another 60 people sent payments totaling $8,640.
Thankfully, investigators with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service were able to act quickly. They seized 1,711 more pieces of mail headed to Nguyen’s post office box—containing checks and money orders worth a total of $395,295.
Federal Charges Filed Against Nguyen
Johnny Q. Nguyen was indicted on May 28, 2025, in the Western District of Washington. He is now facing eleven criminal counts, including multiple counts of mail fraud and money laundering. Nguyen was arrested and appeared in court in California but is scheduled to appear again in Washington on July 1, 2025.
The indictment accuses Nguyen of committing three types of money laundering:
- Concealment: By putting the money into accounts he controlled, Nguyen allegedly tried to hide the illegal source of the funds.
- Promotion: He used the stolen money to continue running the scam by sending out more fake mailings.
- Spending: Investigators say he used some of the funds for his personal benefit.
Prosecutors are seeking the forfeiture of $90,851—believed to be the amount Nguyen personally gained from the scheme.
Each charge of mail fraud or money laundering can carry a penalty of up to 20 years in prison if he is convicted.
How the Scam Worked and What to Watch For
This scheme primarily targeted small businesses and charities—many of whom simply wanted to comply with government rules. The letters Nguyen sent looked very official, and by using government-style formatting and wording, they convinced many people the payments were legitimate.
People were told they had to pay state fees, and the company name “Business Entities” sounded like it could be part of a real government department. That’s why so many people sent money without questioning it.
U.S. Postal Inspectors began investigating the case after suspicious mail activity was reported. Their quick action helped stop the fraud before it grew worse.
Acting U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller emphasized the importance of staying alert. She urged anyone who receives a letter or message that looks like it’s from a government agency to double-check by calling the agency directly—using a phone number found on the agency’s official website, not from the letter itself.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jehiel Baer. At this point, it’s important to remember that these are only charges, and Nguyen is considered innocent until proven guilty in court.
