South Boston Man Arrested for Loansharking and Gambling Charges

BOSTON - A South Boston man was arrested today on loansharking and gambling charges.

Tam V. Nguyen, 50, was charged in an indictment with one count of conspiracy to collect extensions of credit by extortionate means and one count of operating an illegal gambling business.

According to the indictment, from April to August 2017, Nguyen conspired to collect an extension of credit from a victim. Nguyen also engaged in an illegal gambling business from September 2016 through August 2017.

As part of the same investigation, in August 2017, Vinh Quang Huynh, Quang PT Le, and Kim Nguyen, all of Dorchester, were charged with kidnapping, conspiracy to collect extension of credit by extortionate means, and operating an illegal gambling business. Ban “Bo” Tran was also charged with operating an illegal gambling business. On May 9, 2018, Le was sentenced to six years in prison, three years of supervised release and ordered to pay restitution of $6,300. In December 2017, Huynh pleaded guilty and is awaiting sentencing. The remaining defendants have pleaded not guilty and are pending trial.

The charge of conspiracy to collect extensions of credit by extortionate means provides for a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and fine of $250,000. The charge of operating an illegal gambling business provides for a sentence of no greater than five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000.  Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. 

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 Investigation 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 details contained in the indictment are allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.