Press Release
Dorchester Man Sentenced for Kidnapping, Loansharking And Illegal Gambling
For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Massachusetts
BOSTON – A Dorchester man was sentenced on Wednesday, May 9th, in federal court in Boston for kidnapping, loansharking and illegal gambling.
Quang PT Le, 27, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Leo T. Sorokin to six years in prison and three years of supervised release. Le was also ordered to pay $6,300 in restitution. In February 2018, Le pleaded guilty to kidnapping, conspiracy to collect extensions of credit by extortionate means, and operating an illegal gambling business. In August 2017, Le was indicted along with co-defendants Ban Tran, a/k/a “Bo,” 26; Vinh Huynh, 35, and Kim Nguyen, 25, all of Dorchester.
On Nov. 14, 2016, Le, who was armed with a knife, and his co-conspirators kidnapped a victim from the front of the victim’s residence, drove the victim to Dorchester, and beat the victim in an attempt to collect a gambling debt of $40,000. Le and his co-conspirators released the victim and demanded a payment of $10,000 the next day. That day, the victim went to law enforcement and, under the direction of law enforcement officers, made a series of controlled, recorded payments to Le. Over the course of eight months, the victim made payments totaling $22,350 to Le. In August 2017, Le and others were arrested before the last payment was due.
Huynh pleaded guilty in December 2017 and is awaiting sentencing. The remaining defendants have pleaded not guilty and are pending trial.
United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Harold H. Shaw, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; Colonel Kerry A. Gilpin, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; Boston Police Commissioner William B. Evans; and Quincy Police Chief Paul Keenan, made the announcement today. The Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations in Boston and the Massachusetts Department of Correction assisted with the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy E. Moran of Lelling’s Organized Crime and Gang Unit is prosecuting the case.
The remaining defendants charged in this case are presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Updated May 11, 2018
Topic
Violent Crime
Component