A San Jose man has been charged with conspiracy to transport stolen property across state lines, as announced by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of California on February 13.
Tung Pham, 59, who worked as a purchasing coordinator for the library of a public university in San Jose, allegedly abused his position by misusing the university’s procurement card intended for necessary library purchases. Instead, Pham allegedly bought Apple MacBooks and iPads, which he then stole and resold for personal profit.
Pham is said to have conspired with an individual in Folsom, who helped ship the stolen items to buyers outside California, according to court documents. Authorities revealed that Pham used fraudulent transactions to cover up the scheme, making it appear legitimate.
The stolen Apple products were resold by Pham’s co-conspirator to third-party buyers, generating profit from the illegal activity. Investigators from the IRS Criminal Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) led the case.
If convicted, Pham faces up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. However, sentencing will be determined based on statutory factors and Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
The charge is an allegation, and Pham is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Thuesen is handling the prosecution of the case.
