Latest news with #DangTran
CBS News
27-05-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Brooklyn Park woman shares father's Vietnam War story for Memorial Day
Twin Cities woman honors Vietnamese father who fought with U.S. troops Twin Cities woman honors Vietnamese father who fought with U.S. troops Twin Cities woman honors Vietnamese father who fought with U.S. troops Minnesotans honored those we've lost on Monday to mark the Memorial Day holiday. Maria Tran, a Brooklyn Park city council member, reflected on her father. She says Dang Tran was a Vietnamese officer who fought shoulder to shoulder with Americans during the Vietnam War. Maria Tran Tran credits her father for instilling in her a commitment to public service. "I think a lot about him every day," she said. When the war ended, Tran says Dang was imprisoned for years, eventually dying while trying to escape. "They never have a funeral or cemetery to visit," she said. Tran believes our national memory will be incomplete if people like her father, and other groups such as immigrant soldiers, don't have their stories told on days like Memorial Day. Minnesota is making steps toward the inclusiveness she envisions. Last month, lawmakers passed a bipartisan bill granting some veteran benefits to Hmong and Lao soldiers who fought with the U.S. military during Vietnam. Tran worries that without recognition, some young people could be discouraged from enlisting. "We have a lot of Asian people in the Army, and how do they feel about how the U.S. treats their ancestors?" Tran said. She made sure to pass down her father's love of country to her son, who currently serves in the U.S. military. "My son wants to follow in his grandfather's footsteps," she said.
Sydney Morning Herald
14-05-2025
- Sydney Morning Herald
‘You are, at the end of the day, a con man': Facebook fraudster jailed
A con man who posed as a tradie on social media and swindled almost $500,000 from victims has been jailed. Hong Thanh Dang Tran pleaded guilty in Brisbane District Court to 30 fraud charges on Wednesday. Dang Tran, 45, defrauded people between April 2022 and November 2023 after offering building and renovation services via Facebook, prosecutors told the court. He used different names and phone numbers, on some occasions even using business cards belonging to licensed builders, the court was told. The Vietnamese-born Australian citizen received payments from 30 people and either did not complete promised work or begin it entirely. In some instances, Dang Tran introduced complainants to his family to build a rapport. On other occasions he made 'vague' threats asking for further money when challenged by victims, prosecutors said. Dang Tran received $452,000 from his victims and made some partial repayments just shy of $42,000. He was arrested on November 17, 2023 and has been in custody since, appearing in court for Wednesday's sentencing.
The Age
14-05-2025
- The Age
‘You are, at the end of the day, a con man': Facebook fraudster jailed
A con man who posed as a tradie on social media and swindled almost $500,000 from victims has been jailed. Hong Thanh Dang Tran pleaded guilty in Brisbane District Court to 30 fraud charges on Wednesday. Dang Tran, 45, defrauded people between April 2022 and November 2023 after offering building and renovation services via Facebook, prosecutors told the court. He used different names and phone numbers, on some occasions even using business cards belonging to licensed builders, the court was told. The Vietnamese-born Australian citizen received payments from 30 people and either did not complete promised work or begin it entirely. In some instances, Dang Tran introduced complainants to his family to build a rapport. On other occasions he made 'vague' threats asking for further money when challenged by victims, prosecutors said. Dang Tran received $452,000 from his victims and made some partial repayments just shy of $42,000. He was arrested on November 17, 2023 and has been in custody since, appearing in court for Wednesday's sentencing.
Perth Now
14-05-2025
- Perth Now
'Calculated' con man jailed after posing as builder
A con man who posed as a tradie on social media and swindled almost $500,000 from victims has been jailed. Hong Thanh Dang Tran pleaded guilty in Brisbane District Court to 30 fraud charges on Wednesday. Dang Tran, 45, defrauded people between April 2022 and November 2023 after offering building and renovation services via Facebook, prosecutors told the court. He used different names and phone numbers, on some occasions even using business cards belonging to licensed builders, the court was told. The Vietnamese-born Australian citizen received payments from 30 people and either did not complete promised work or begin it entirely. In some instances, Dang Tran introduced complainants to his family to build a rapport. On other occasions he made "vague" threats asking for further money when challenged by victims, prosecutors said. Dang Tran received $452,000 from his victims and made some partial repayments just shy of $42,000. He was arrested on November 17, 2023 and has been in custody since, appearing in court for Wednesday's sentencing. Prosecutors asked Judge Tony Moynihan for six years' imprisonment which defence counsel did not contest. Counsel representing Dang Tran said the severity of his offending was not lost on him and he accepted it was "calculated and egregious" in nature. In sentencing remarks, Judge Moynihan said Dang Tran was not qualified or insured and that his advertisements were misleading. "You deployed tactics to encourage the complainants to trust you," he said. "You are, at the end of the day, a con man." Dang Tran was jailed for six years. He will be eligible for parole on November 16, 2025 after 544 days time served in pre-sentence custody.
