U.S. Marshals Arrest Fugitive at San Francisco International Airport

San Francisco, CA - On June 25, members of the U.S. Marshals Service Northern District of California arrested in San Francisco a former U.S. Postal Service (USPS) employee wanted for violating pre-trial conditions by unlawful flight to avoid prosecution and fleeing to a foreign country.

Johnny Q. Nguyen, 49, is alleged to have run a fraudulent mail scheme from July to December 2024, stealing over $90,000 from businesses and charities in Washington and California by sending fake government letters demanding fees. Nguyen allegedly funneled the money through an LLC shell company and laundered the proceeds via transfers and cash withdrawals. Authorities intercepted an additional $395,000 in intended payments.

In May, Nguyen was indicted by a grand jury in the Western District of Washington on several charges, including mail fraud and money laundering. After a court appearance in the Northern District of California June 17, he was ordered to surrender his passport and restrict his travel. However, on June 24, he used a concealed passport to flee the U.S. on a one-way flight to Vietnam.

On June 25, the U.S. Marshals learned of Nguyen’s flight and alerted the State Department’s Diplomatic Security Service, who intercepted Nguyen on a layover in Taipei, Taiwan, and put him on a return flight to San Francisco International Airport (SFO). U.S. Marshals took him into custody upon arrival at SFO and he was transported and booked into Santa Clara County Jail without incident. 

On June 26, Nguyen appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Susan van Keulen for the Northern District of California and was ordered detained and transferred to the Western District of Washington in custody to appear on the charges. The mail fraud and money laundering case is being investigated by the U.S Postal Inspection Service.