News and Press Releases
Brooklyn Park man sentenced for embezzling $1.9 million from his employer
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 13, 2012
MINNEAPOLIS—Earlier today in federal court, a 37-year-old Brooklyn Park man was
sentenced for embezzling approximately $1.9 million by diverting vendor checks for his
personal use. United States District Court Judge Patrick J. Schiltz sentenced Brandon Vi Tran
to 46 months in prison on one count of wire fraud and one count of money laundering. Tran,
who was charged on May 2, 2011, pleaded guilty on June 7, 2011.
In his plea agreement, Tran admitted that between 2005 and October 28, 2010, he
embezzled the funds. At the time, he was an accountant at Diamond Graphics, Inc., where he
was responsible for creating checks payable to various vendors. Once a check was created, it
was presented to one of four individuals in the company who had the authority to sign the
check. Once signed, the check was supposed to be sent to the appropriate vendor. However,
Tran would deposit the check into his personal bank accounts.
This case was the result of an investigation by the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal
Investigation Division. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christian S. Wilton.
This law enforcement action is in part sponsored by the interagency Financial Fraud
Enforcement Task Force. The task force was established to wage an aggressive, coordinated
and proactive effort to investigate and prosecute financial crimes. It includes representatives
from a broad range of federal agencies, regulatory authorities, inspectors general, and state and
local law enforcement who, working together, bring to bear a powerful array of criminal and
civil enforcement resources. The task force is working to improve efforts across the federal
executive branch, and, with state and local partners, investigate and prosecute significant
financial crimes, ensure just and effective punishment for those who perpetrate financial crimes, combat discrimination in the lending and financial markets, and recover proceeds for
victims of financial crimes.
