A former private security guard pleaded guilty Wednesday to pretending to be a federal law enforcement agent while working at an Orange County retirement community.
Donovan Pham Nguyen, 34, had agreed to a plea deal requiring him to admit to one count of impersonating a federal officer, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Prosecutors allege that Nguyen – a former Riverside resident who recently moved to Orange County – pretended for years to be a special agent with Homeland Security Investigations and used a fake federal ID badge to buy firearms.
Shortly after Nguyen’s arrest, he was fired from his private security job at Laguna Woods Village. According to the retirement community, Nguyen had been hired by a previous management company, which allegedly failed to carry out the background check required by the community’s current managers.
Nguyen previously worked as a privately contracted security guard at a Department of Homeland Security facility, but according to court records never worked directly for a federal law enforcement agency. According to federal prosecutors, Nguyen was forced to leave that private security job after being accused of printing fake Homeland Security Investigations ID documents.
Nguyen had a private vehicle outfitted with red and blue lights and a siren, and was known to hand out Homeland Security Investigations memorabilia such as mugs and coins. Prosecutors say he also referenced his “duties” as a federal agent when trying to excuse frequent absences from work.
A false federal law enforcement ID allowed Nguyen to avoid paying for or taking safety courses when buying guns, according to prosecutors.
Authorities say Nguyen also claimed the false federal law enforcement credentials on social media, including a LinkedIn profile that listed his employment as “Department of Homeland Security Agent.” He also discussed immigration policies in a YouTube video while claiming to be a long-time special agent.
Prosecutors also alleged that Nguyen attempted to insert himself into criminal investigations.
According to a criminal complaint, at one point a mutual friend introduced Nguyen to members of the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office.
During a meeting with the prosecutors, Nguyen was accused of claiming to be a federal agent in order to discuss a potential criminal investigation. He later told the DA’s Office that, after discussing the matter with a “supervisor” he couldn’t help them, according to court records.
Nguyen on another occasion told agents with the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service that he was a federal law enforcement agent while they were preparing to execute an arrest warrant at the retirement community, according to court records.
Nguyen is scheduled to return to court for sentencing on Feb. 3. He faces up to three years in federal prison.
