Traffic stop leads to drug, fake ID, credit card arrest

The following is a direct press release from the Kerr County Sheriff’s Office.

KERRVILLE, TEXAS. On 2 May, 2022, The newly-established Multi-County Criminal Interdiction Unit, which includes deputies from Kerr, Gillespie, and Kendall County Sheriff’s Offices, effected on a traffic stop near the 493 mile marker on Interstate 10.

Investigators noticed a 2016 Mercedes sedan making rapid lane changes and driving erratically, with expired temporary license plates.

After being pulled over by interdiction officers, the driver stated the vehicle was registered in California and retrieved permanent California plates from the trunk of the vehicle.

The driver initially identified herself as Hien-Thang Thi Lam, and during the course of the investigation, it was discovered the suspect’s true identity to be Thoa Le Nguyen, 41, of Garden Grove, Texas.

Based on information gathered at the scene, a K9 unit was employed and alerted on the vehicle. After a brief search, Investigators discovered a glass pipe and 31.2 grams of methamphetamine.

Additional contraband was discovered in the vehicle, including 24 state-issued identification cards and 34 credit and debit cards not belonging to the suspect. A quantity of financial documents not belonging to the suspect were also discovered, along with two additional meth pipes.

Through the investigation process, the suspect admitted to using fake IDs to set up business accounts with cellular phone providers, among other acts to impersonate others for the purpose of financial gain.

Thoa Le Nguyen was booked into the Kerr County Jail on one count of Possession of a Controlled Substance PG1, one count of Fraudulent Use or Possession of Identifying Information Items (50 or more), and three counts of Tampering with a Government Record with Intent to Defraud or Harm. Total bonds were set at $105,000.

As in all criminal cases, charges may be added or modified prior to trial, and all suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. This investigation is ongoing as evidence and other information is processed.

“This is another example of the successes our Interdiction team is having in preventing criminal activity inside and outside Kerr County,” said Sheriff Larry Leitha. “This type of financial crime leaves innocent people and businesses holding the bag on thousands in losses, not to mention the disruption to one’s life caused by having an identity stolen.

Often, drug and other criminal activity like ID theft are closely connected. We encourage all citizens to check their credit reports and keep an eye on the accounts in their name. This can happen to anyone. Based on the information gathered so far, this arrest may have prevented hundreds of average people from becoming victims.”