A San Jose man has admitted he turned a rented Olympia P.O. box into the hub of a sham billing operation that siphoned money from unsuspecting companies across the West Coast, according to federal prosecutors. Johnny Q. Nguyen pleaded guilty Thursday to federal mail fraud after investigators said he mailed out phony government billing statements that persuaded thousands of businesses and charities to send checks to the Olympia address. Investigators intercepted 1,711 pieces of mail and nearly $395,295 in payments tied to the scheme, and Nguyen agreed to pay about $90,850 in restitution. Under his plea deal, prosecutors plan to ask for roughly a 33-month prison sentence when he is sentenced in May.
How the scam worked
According to the U.S. Attorney’s…..