By Liz Adkins
InkFreeNews

WARSAW — A 71-year-old woman from California has been identified as the individual who allegedly scammed Kosciusko County’s government out of over $300,000.

Thay Thi Nguyen, 71, Sacramento, Calif., is charged with theft where the value of the property is over $50,000, a level 5 felony.

On July 11, 2023, an Indiana State Police detective received information about the Kosciusko County Government being defrauded and experiencing a loss of $313,951.90.

On April 7, 2022, an unknown individual posed as a representative from J&K Communications, requesting payment from the county government for invoices via ACH transfers. The individual provided ACH transfer information to a bank account in the name of Thay Thi Nguyen – J&K Communication, Inc.

On April 26, 2022, payment was sent from the county’s government to the fraudulent bank account regarding payment for invoices totaling $313,951.90. Kosciusko County Government was alerted about the payment being made to a fraudulent account on April 29, 2022.

According to court documents, bank records indicated the account was opened by Nguyen. Bank records also showed a $2,000 wire was sent from the account opened by Nguyen to an Asian bank. A $20,000 wire transfer was also sent from the fraudulent account directly to another account Nguyen owned. Lastly, $293,000 was withdrawn from the account by Nguyen.

On Sept. 14, 2023, a Sacramento County District criminal investigator spoke with Nguyen, who said the bank account belonged to her. She said she closed the account in June 2022 because “they bothered her” and asked too many questions about her transactions.

Nguyen also verified she received $313,951.90 from the Kosciusko County Government because “they wanted (her) help.” She understood it was a government entity but also allegedly said she believed it was a store.

Nguyen admitted to transferring $20,000 from the fraudulent account to another account since she had been “bothered” by bank staff about her account transactions.

When asked about the $293,000 she withdrew, Nguyen said she sent the money internationally to someone she owed the money to.

A warrant was issued for Nguyen’s arrest on June 20.

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