Mass. Man Guilty in Employment Agency Fraud

A former Malden, Massachusetts man who pleaded guilty in a fraud scheme involving a temporary employment agency has been sentenced to more than two years in prison and must forfeit more than $700,000.

Tan Ngo, 47, also known as Bike Ming, was convicted of 13 charges, including mail fraud, money laundering conspiracy and filing a false tax return for his Worcester business, Tri-Mark Temporary Service.

Among the schemes, Ngo and his partners deposited checks totaling $767,870 from their clients for their employees’ work, but paid the workers in cash without withholding or deducting for taxes and Social Security. He was also convicted of defrauding two workers’ compensation insurance companies.

U.S. District Judge Nathaniel Gorton sentenced Ngo to two years and one month of incarceration and three years of probation. He was ordered to pay restitution of $38,265 to the two insurance companies, and forfeit $767,870.