SAN FRANCISCO – A federal grand jury indicted Vo Nguyen, charging him with attempted murder and related crimes in connection with firing a gun at a U.S. Postal Service (USPS) employee who was delivering a package to his residence, announced U.S. Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey and San Francisco Division Postal Inspector in Charge Rafael Nuñez. Nguyen made his initial federal court appearance today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Laurel Beeler.
The indictment, filed May 2, 2023, and unsealed earlier today, alleges that on April 1, 2023, Nguyen used a Sig Sauer 9mm pistol while assaulting and attempting to murder the letter carrier.
According to documents filed by the government in connection with its request to detain Nguyen prior to trial, the government alleges that Nguyen assaulted and attempted to murder a postal worker who was delivering mail to his residence on April 1, 2023. The USPS employee was attempting to deliver mail to a woman outside Nguyen’s residence when Nguyen allegedly came out of the house and started to yell at the USPS worker and aggressively approached him. The USPS employee escaped down the street, but Nguyen allegedly gave chase and caught up. The USPS employee used pepper spray to repel Nguyen. Nguyen returned to his home for a couple of minutes before allegedly leaving and getting into a Toyota Land Cruiser. Nguyen allegedly found the USPS employee on a nearby street and rapidly fired a pistol approximately seven to eight times at the USPS employee. As the USPS employee tried to run away, Nguyen allegedly fired an additional five shots. The government further alleges that the USPS employee took cover behind a parked SUV in a driveway, and Nguyen made a U-turn, drove back up the street, and fired three more shots at the USPS employee before running out of ammunition. Nguyen then allegedly briefly drove away, returned in the Land Cruiser, and attempted to fight the USPS employee. The USPS employee pepper sprayed the defendant again and SFPD arrived shortly after, placing Nguyen under arrest.
The indictment charges with one count of assault on a federal employee with a deadly or dangerous weapon, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 111(a) and (b); one count of attempted murder of an employee of the United States, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1114; and one count of using, carrying, and discharging a firearm in connection with a crime of violence, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c).
The charges presented in an indictment are merely allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
The assault with a deadly weapon and attempted murder charges both carry a statutory maximum of 20 years, and the firearm charge carries a minimum 10 years in prison and maximum term of life in prison In addition, as part of any sentence, the court may order a term of supervised release, a fine of up to $250,000 for each count, restitution, and additional assessments. However, any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.
Nguyen is scheduled to make his next federal court appearance on June 15, 2023, before Judge Orrick.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelsey Davidson is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Veronica Hernandez. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the USPS Inspection Service and the San Francisco Police Department.