BOWIE, MD — A Maryland man has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud after admitting to playing a central role in a years-long scheme that enabled foreign nationals in China to perform sensitive U.S.-based remote IT jobs under his name.
Minh Phuong Ngoc Vong, 40, of Bowie, Maryland, conspired with individuals including a foreign national based in Shenyang, China—known only as “John Doe” or “William James”—to fraudulently obtain software development roles with U.S. companies and federal government contractors.
According to court documents, Vong falsely claimed credentials including a computer science degree and 16 years of experience to land jobs with at least 13 U.S. companies between 2021 and 2024. In reality, he had no college degree or technical training.
“This case highlights the national security risks posed by fraudulent access to U.S. government systems,” said the U.S. Department of Justice in a statement.
False Credentials, Real Government Access
One notable incident occurred in early 2023, when Vong, using a resume prepared by Doe, applied to a Virginia-based tech firm for a job on a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) contract. The position required U.S. citizenship due to its access to sensitive national defense information.
After verifying his identity with a Maryland driver’s license and U.S. passport during an online interview, Vong was hired and issued a government-approved Personal Identity Verification (PIV) card. He was also given a company laptop, which he then equipped with remote access software allowing Doe to operate it from China undetected.
Between March and July 2023, Doe used Vong’s credentials to complete software development work on the FAA contract. Vong was paid over $28,000, some of which he transferred overseas to his co-conspirators.
Nearly $1 Million in Fraudulent Payments
The FAA job was not an isolated case. Prosecutors say Vong used similar tactics to obtain employment from a dozen other U.S. firms over a three-year span. In total, these companies paid him more than $970,000, all while the work was secretly performed abroad by unauthorized individuals.
Some of the firms unknowingly subcontracted Vong’s work to additional U.S. government agencies, thereby granting unauthorized access to critical federal systems.
Potential National Security Implications
Officials warn that such schemes pose serious cybersecurity and national security risks, particularly when unauthorized foreign nationals gain access to U.S. government infrastructure under false pretenses.
“Vong’s actions opened the door for foreign actors to access protected government systems,” said FBI Baltimore Field Office, which investigated the case. “This behavior is not just criminal—it endangers national security.”
Vong pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland and now faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. Sentencing is scheduled for August 28 before Judge Deborah Boardman.
Crackdown on ‘Laptop Farms’
The case is part of a wider federal effort—known as “DPRK RevGen: Domestic Enabler Initiative”—launched in March 2024 by the Department of Justice and FBI to disrupt fraudulent “laptop farms.” These are U.S.-based setups where company-issued computers are used by overseas actors posing as domestic freelance IT workers.
Vong’s conviction follows similar crackdowns in October 2023, May 2024, August 2024, December 2024, and January 2025.
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