Huy Tuan Nguyen, 35, and Vong Vang, 39, entered guilty pleas to the burglary of a business in connection with a theft from a Jacks Valley home store
Two California men were sentenced to prison on Tuesday in connection with a retail theft ring.
Huy Tuan Nguyen, 35, and Vong Vang, 39, appeared in Douglas County District Court after they admitted to felony burglary of a business that occurred May 22.
Nguyen was described as the low man on the totem pole in the ring.
Attorney Max Stovall said Nguyen was caught up in a cycle of drug and gambling addiction that led him to participate in the thefts.
Nguyen is facing prosecution on a similar charge in Auburn, Calif.
Stovall acknowledged a 2009 felony burglary conviction.
Prosecutor Ric Casper said the theft was not a one-off, having occurred at four different Home Depots to the point where the store was watching for him. Nguyen was in possession of a card with UPC codes of $5 when he went through the checkout.
Nguyen was sentenced to 12-30 months in prison and given credit for 133 days time served.
Vang, who was the wheelman in the caper, received 2-5 years in prison. Vang has a far more extensive criminal record.
“You have been victimizing other people for years,” Young said in pronouncing sentence.
Attorney Brian Filter sought probation and a drug treatment program for Vang, whose wife died in July of an overdose while he was in custody.
Casper characterized Vang as a career thief in detailing his record.
