A man from Maryland has admitted to being part of a fraud scheme that involved tricking U.S. companies into hiring him as a remote software developer, only to secretly allow foreign individuals in China to do the actual work.
Who is Minh Phuong Ngoc Vong?
Minh Phuong Ngoc Vong, a 40-year-old resident of Bowie, Maryland, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Vong worked with others, including a foreign national known as John Doe or William James, based in Shenyang, China. Together, they cheated U.S. companies into hiring Vong for remote jobs that he was not qualified for.
How Did the Fraud Work?
Vong used fake resumes and false claims about his education and work experience to get remote software development jobs. In reality, he had no college degree or background in software development. Once hired, Vong gave his job login credentials to Doe and other unknown individuals, allowing them to do the work from China while using Vong’s name.
In January 2023, Doe submitted a fake resume to a Virginia tech company in Vong’s name, claiming Vong had 16 years of experience and a Bachelor of Science degree. This job required the person to be a U.S. citizen, which Vong proved during an online interview by showing his U.S. passport and Maryland driver’s license.
Access to U.S. Government Projects
The Virginia company hired Vong and assigned him to work on a software project for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The FAA provided Vong with secure access tools, including a PIV card that allowed access to U.S. government systems. Vong then installed remote access software on his work laptop, which Doe used from China.
From March to July 2023, Doe completed the work from China, and Vong was paid over $28,000 by the Virginia company. Vong then sent part of the money overseas to Doe and others.
The Full Extent of the Fraud
Vong’s scheme didn’t stop with one company. Between 2021 and 2024, he used similar false methods to get jobs with at least 13 different U.S. companies. These companies paid him a total of more than $970,000 for work actually done by foreign individuals. Some of these companies were working on contracts for U.S. government agencies, meaning the overseas conspirators also gained access to sensitive government systems.
Legal Consequences and Investigation
Vong now faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. His sentencing is scheduled for August 28 by U.S. District Judge Deborah Boardman in Maryland.
The case is being investigated by the FBI’s Baltimore Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christina A. Hoffman is leading the prosecution, with support from Alexandra Cooper-Ponte of the National Security Division’s Cyber Section.
This case is part of the DPRK RevGen: Domestic Enabler Initiative, launched by the Department of Justice and the FBI in March 2024. The program aims to shut down so-called “laptop farms” in the U.S., where laptops provided by U.S. companies are used by unauthorized individuals overseas.
