5 Vietnam Refugees Held in Fund Scam
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SAN JOSE, Calif. — Five Vietnamese refugees have been arrested on charges of financing an international chain of restaurants with money solicited to fight communists, federal authorities said Tuesday.
All five are associated with the National United Front for the Liberation of Vietnam, commonly known as “The Front,” which authorities said solicits donations worldwide to support a force of 10,000 “freedom fighters” in Vietnam.
A federal grand jury indictment in San Jose charged that between 1982 and 1987, the five conspired to divert funds from the supposedly nonprofit organization to their own use, including the financing of Pho Hoa Restaurants, a worldwide chain operated by the Aureflam Corp. of San Jose.
All five were charged with conspiracy and income tax evasion. They were released Tuesday on $100,000 bond each after surrendering their passports.
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