New Cumberland residents sentenced for forced labor, marriage fraud

By staff reports, February 15, 2010
Last updated: Monday, February 15, 2010 9:30 AM EST

Two New Cumberland residents were sentenced Friday for what an investigator termed “modern day slavery,” according to United States Pennsylvania Middle District Attorney Dennis Pfannenschmidt.

Pfannenschmidt said U.S. District Court Judge Sylvia Rambo sentenced Lynda Dieu Phan, 39, to 90 days in prison followed by 270 days of home arrest and a year of supervised release, plus $300,000 in restitution and forfeiture of a 2008 Toyota Highlander and $185,416.82 that were seized. She had pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit forced labor trafficking, forced labor and marriage fraud.

Duc Cao Nguyen, 41, was sentenced to a year of probation and a $1,000 fine, Pfannenschmidt said, and Justin Phan, who with Nguyen pleaded guilty to marriage fraud, is to be sentenced in March.

The three are accused of conspiring from 2000 to August 2008 for Lynda Dieu Phan to travel to Vietnam to recruit two victims to work in her York area nail salons, Pfannenschmidt said. Fraudulent marriages were arranged so the victims could gain entry into the United States, he said, and then the victims were forced to work at Lynda Dieu Phan’s nail salons.

“This investigation has shown the unfortunate reality that modern day slavery continues to exist in the 21st century. Those who compel such acts will be held accountable,” said John P. Kelleghan, special agent in charge of the ICE Office of Investigations in Philadelphia. “Because this heinous crime is extremely well-hidden, we need to help educate members of the public about human trafficking, so that we can rescue the victims, and working with our local, state and federal partners, to prosecute those who engage in these horrendous acts.”

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