Spokane Men Charged In Vehicle Fraud And Identity Theft Scheme

Spokane – Michael C. Ormsby, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington announced that a federal grand jury returned an 18 count indictment against Tam Quang Do, age 36, and Ming Quang Do, age 39. The indictment charges them with Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud, Wire Fraud, Odometer Fraud, and Aggravated Identity Theft. The fraud-related charges carry a maximum twenty (20) year term of imprisonment, with the Aggravated Identity Theft charge carrying a consecutive two-year term.

The indictment generally alleges that Tam Quang Do and Ming Quang Do purchased high-mileage vehicles in Eastern Washington and Northern Idaho. It is alleged that they fraudulently reset the vehicle odometers to reflect a significantly lower mileage total and thereafter created and utilized false and fraudulent sales advertisements about the vehicles' mileage, condition, and ownership history via the internet website "craigslist.com." It is also generally alleged that they provided the buyers with Washington and Idaho vehicle documents containing bogus information, the original owners' identification information, and forged signatures. It is alleged that Tam Quang Do and Ming Quang Do utilized a grocery parking lot located at 1616 W. Northwest Blvd. and a shopping plaza located at 1704 W. Wellesley Avenue in Spokane, Washington to negotiate and conduct many of the vehicle sales.

The public is encouraged to contact the U.S. Secret Service at (509) 353-2532 if they, or anyone they know, may have fallen victim to this or a similar scheme in the last six (6) to eighteen (18) months. This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service, Spokane County Sheriff's Office, and Kootenai County Sheriff's Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sean T. McLaughlin.

An Indictment Contains Allegations That a Defendant Has Committed a Crime. Every Defendant Is Presumed Innocent Unless and Until Proven Guilty Beyond a Reasonable Doubt.