Fountain Valley residents plead guilty in public housing fraud
Five family members, including two Fountain Valley residents, pleaded guilty Tuesday to defrauding over $100,000 in government subsidies by violating public housing assistance laws.
Dong Hong Phan, 75, and his wife Anh Tuyet Ly, 65, both of Fountain Valley, each pleaded guilty in Orange County Superior Court in Santa Ana to one felony count of aid by misrepresentation, one felony count of grand theft by public housing fraud and admitted sentencing enhancements for taking over $50,000 to $100,000, according to the Orange County district attorney’s office.
Phan and Ly were sentenced to 14 days in jail and five years of probation apiece. Phan also had to pay $176,613 in restitution to the Orange County Housing Authority and Santa Ana Housing Authority, two organizations that provide housing assistance to low-income adults.
Phan and Ly were accused of illegally providing housing to four members of Ly’s family from 2003 to 2013 while they were receiving housing subsidies from the OCHA. This violated a law that disallows individuals who are receiving housing aid from renting from family members, according to the district attorney’s office.
The family also did not report over $83,000 in overseas wire transfers to China.
Three of Ly’s family members, who are all from Westminster, pleaded guilty to multiple felonies related to public housing fraud.
John Gang Ly, 27, was sentenced to three years in state prison, Linda Linh Gia Ly, 23, was sentenced to 44 days in jail and five years of probation and Thu Ha Le, 54, was sentenced to 212 days in jail and five years of probation.
Thang Chinh Li, 66, also of Westminster, is the only family member who has not pleaded guilty. Li has been charged with a range of felonies including seven felony counts of perjury by declaration. Li faces a maximum sentence of 13 years and four months in state prison if he is convicted, according to the district attorney’s office.
Li will appear in Orange County Superior Court in Santa Ana on Nov. 14 for a pretrial hearing.
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