California Resident Sentenced For Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud

Hanna Dinh, a California resident, was sentenced on February 12, 2024, in U.S. District Court, Central District of California, for conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Dinh was sentenced to 20 months in prison, followed by 3 years’ probation, of which 7 months is to be served as home confinement. Our investigation found that Dinh and others made false statements to lenders in connection with fraudulent applications for Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) and Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans for her company, HD Financial Firm. The applications included false representations regarding the number of employees on the company’s payroll and false certifications that the loans would be used for permissible business purposes. Dinh incorporated HD Financial Firm in June 2020 and was its sole officer and registered agent. Dinh and others submitted fraudulent EIDL and PPP loan applications seeking approximately $260,672. This investigation is part of a nationwide law enforcement action that resulted in criminal charges against 18 defendants for their alleged participation in fraud schemes that exploited the COVID-19 relief funds. A co-defendant in this case, Dr. Anthony Hao Dinh, a licensed doctor of osteopathy who was an ear, nose, and throat specialist and a facial plastic surgeon, was charged in September 2023 for allegedly defrauding the Health Resources and Services Administration Uninsured Program of approximately $230 million. Anthony Hao Dinh allegedly submitted fraudulent claims to the Uninsured Program for treatment of patients, including Amtrak employees, who were, in fact, insured. In addition, Anthony Hao Dinh allegedly billed for services not rendered and for services that were not medically necessary.