A Chula Vista man who worked for the Social Security Administration was sentenced Aug. 30 to eight months home detention for embezzling $65,118.
Nam-Phong Hung Le, 37, has paid all the money back which is part of the reason why he was placed on three years probation in U.S. District Court.
Judge Janis Sammartino ordered Le to pay an additional $34,890, which is a judgement found against him that relates to the fraud. He will have to pay for electronic monitoring of his house arrest.
Le worked as a technical expert in the Social Security Administration office in El Cajon and later in the downtown San Diego offices.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeff Hill asked for a 1-year sentence in prison, saying money was taken from six people’s Social Security accounts, including several who were deceased and whose payments should have stopped.
Hill described it as violation of trust and it was “a crime of opportunity that kept going.” He described the victims as vulnerable.
Le pleaded guilty to two counts of Social Security fraud and theft of public property.
“It took away from people who needed it, more than you needed it,” said Sammartino to Le.
The judge said Le will be allowed to leave his residence for medical appointments, religious services, and for employment at a new job.
“You’re intelligent, hard working, a person of faith,” said Sammartino, who added she would exercise discretion to impose a home detention sentence.
His attorney, Ezekiel Cortez, told the judge Le felt guilty for the pain he caused others.
“I know I have committed a crime. I am totally responsible for that,” said Le, wearing a suit.
Le told Sammartino he was “begging for mercy (and) I want a second chance in life.”
Le immigrated from Vietnam and became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 2002, according to court records. He has a master’s degree and volunteers at his church.
Le set up a bank account in the names of two recipients who were leaving the U.S. and he knew Social Security payments would not be paid to those not in the U.S.
In his plea agreement, Le admitted he exploited his position with the Social Security Administration and took cash from money owed to different people. He deposited the cash into a bank account he controlled.
The amount defrauded included $44,306.54 from Social Security and $20,811.59 from the California Department of health Care Services.
Eleven friends and family members of Le watched the proceedings in court.
