Defendant sold her car without her knowledge on a website and made approximately $13,000 in fraudulent charges on victim's account.
Franklin police arrested an Edison man after a lengthy investigation into theft and fraud charges. (Dave Hutchinson | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com) FRANKLIN -- An Edison man has been sentenced to five years in prison on gun and theft charges that include him selling his then-roommate's car without her knowledge and making approximately $13,000 in fraudulent charges on her accounts, Franklin police spokesman Sgt. Philip Rizzo announced Monday.
Dylan Nguyen, 32, was sentenced by Somerset County Superior Court Judge Julie M. Marino and must serve a minimum of 42 months before he's eligible for parole, Rizzo said.
Nguyen pleaded guilty to second-degree unlawful possession of a weapon, third-degree theft by unlawful taking, fourth-degree possession of a large capacity magazine and fourth-degree possession of hollow-point bullets, Rizzo said.
On November 29, 2014, Franklin police responded to a Tintern Court residence in the Somerset section of Franklin Township for a reported theft and fraud case, police said.
The victim told officers that her roommate, Nguyen, had made numerous fraudulent charges with her credit cards and opened several new accounts in her name, police said. She added that her 2010 Acura TSX had been missing since Nov. 26, 2014, police said. The vehicle was entered into the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) system as stolen, police said.
Lead investigator, Franklin Detective Emma Bascom, confirmed that Nguyen had made approximately $13,000 in fraudulent charges utilizing the victim's accounts and sold her vehicle on an internet website, police said.
On December 1, 2014, the victim's Acura was recovered by the Virginia Beach Police Department and returned to her, police said.
Further investigation by Bascom discovered that Nguyen was driving a 2007 black BMW and had an outstanding active warrant from Middlesex County, police said. A BOLO was placed for Nguyen and his vehicle, police said.
On March 31, 2015, at 1:19 p.m., Franklin police officers John Kuzemchak and Amin Brodie spotted the black BMW bearing the license plate uncovered during the investigation and conducted a motor vehicle stop on Franklin Boulevard, police said. Nguyen as the driver, police said.
Nguyen was taken into custody and the vehicle was impounded, police said. A search warrant for the vehicle revealed a handgun, large capacity magazine and hollow point bullets, police said.
"This was a very labor intensive case," Franklin Chief of Police Lawrence W. Roberts said. "Through the cooperative efforts of the Middlesex County Probation Office, Somerset County Sheriff's Office and Virginia Beach Police Department's we were able to identify, located and take Dylan Nguyen into custody."Hard work and dedication allowed the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office to present a solid case and bring this individual to justice."
Dave Hutchinson may be reached at dhutchinson@njadvancemedia.com.Follow him on Twitter @DHutch_SL. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
