Final Defendant Sentenced for Stockton-Based Credit Card Fraud Scheme

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Thongchone Vongdeng, 38, of Stockton, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Troy L. Nunley to time served, which was three years in custody, for his participation in a scheme that involved hundreds of fraudulent transactions on Target REDcard accounts and at least 1,000 victims across the United States, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.

San Francisco Division Inspector in Charge Rafael Nunez of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service stated, “Postal inspectors worked closely with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our partners in law enforcement to arrest and prosecute those individuals responsible for thefts of mail and identity theft crimes committed against the public.”

According to the court documents, between March 2014 and September 2015, Vongdeng and eight co-conspirators stole personal information from victims and created unauthorized accounts in order to purchase merchandise. Part of the scheme involved using Target REDcard account numbers to buy large amounts of electronics, prepaid gift cards, and other goods at Target locations throughout the Sacramento area, northern California, and elsewhere.

In all, more than 300 counterfeit accounts were used or trafficked by members of the conspiracy, and over 1,000 victims have been identified as having had their identities compromised as a result of the conspiracy. All defendants are residents of Stockton. All of defendants pleaded guilty, and their sentences are as follows:

Boone B. Khoonsrivong, 41, was sentenced to five years and five months in prison.

Daisy Sysengrat, 32, was sentenced to two and half years in prison.

Vuthiya Tim, 33; was sentenced to three years and two months in prison.

Meghan Paradis, 34; was sentenced to two and half years in prison.

Sequoia Valverde, 35; was sentenced to three years and one month in prison.

Amber Collins, 33; was sentenced to two and half years in prison.

Somaly Siv, 32; and was sentenced to two and half years in prison

Jaffrey Brown, 34, was sentenced to three years and two months in prison.

This case was the product of an investigation by the United States Postal Inspection Service and the Stockton Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys André M. Espinosa and Rosanne L. Rust are prosecuting the case.