He put Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) agents in a dangerous situation when he reached for a loaded 357 Magnum revolver, now Tri Nguyen, a fugitive on the run for 10 years, is going to prison.

Nguyen, 42, saw his freedom come to an end on June 15, 2012 when ABC agents conducted a warrant sweep in San Bernardino County.  During that sweep, Nguyen tried get his hands on a loaded gun hidden behind the headboard of his bed.  Only after his arrest, did agents discover Nguyen had a no-bail warrant out for his arrest.  He violated his probation back in 2001 and had been “on-the-run” ever since.  He was considered armed and dangerous and had been on federal probation after serving a sentence for cocaine trafficking.  

This month, Nguyen pleaded guilty to resisting police by threat or violence and was sentenced to 18 months in state prison.   Nguyen’s incarceration does not stop there, he will then serve 10 years on the federal charge for cocaine trafficking out of South Carolina.

“Justice prevailed as the defendant received a stiff sentence for resistance to our agents on top of his 10 year federal sentence,” said Steven Combre, ABC agent and vice president of the California Association of State Investigators (CASI).   “An assault on one peace officer is an assault on peace officers everywhere.”

“ABC agents are in the trenches of some of the most dangerous law enforcement work in the state,” said Alan Barcelona, president of the California Statewide Law Enforcement Association (CSLEA).  CSLEA represents ABC agents and approximately 7,000 other law enforcement, public safety and consumer protection professionals who work for the state of California.  “ABC agents  are involved in a lot of law enforcement activity that many Californians are not aware of, they work alongside DOJ special agents and local law enforcement officers to combat crime, including violent crime.  I am relieved no one was hurt in the arrest of armed fugitive Tri Nguyen.”