(Woodland, CA) – On April 28, 2025, Hoan T. Nguyen and Khuong M. Lu, both Bay Area residents, were arraigned on several felony charges involving retail theft, including a new law created by California’s voter-initiative, Prop 36. Aimed at addressing brazen repeat offenders of retail theft, Prop 36 went into effect December 18, 2024. Lu and Nguyen are each charged with three felony counts of Retail Theft with Two or More Prior Convictions; three felony counts of Grand Theft; one count of Conspiracy to Commit Grand Theft; one count of Organized Retail Theft; and one count of Possession of a Controlled Substance; along with case enhancements related to the crimes and each of their criminal histories. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 9, 2025, at 9am in Dept. 10.
Lu and Nguyen were arrested on April 24, 2025, after allegedly stealing more than $5000 worth of merchandise from Lowe’s in San Joaquin, Sacramento, and Yolo County over the course of just a few days, April 22, 2025 – April 24, 2025. The California Highway Patrol Valley Division’s Organized Retail Theft Crime Task Force was alerted to the crimes and with the help of local agencies, were able to swiftly locate and apprehend Lu and Nguyen. Records checks revealed that Lu has five prior qualifying theft convictions and Nguyen has four, making both eligible for charging under the new law created by Prop 36, California Penal Code, §666.1. Nguyen was also serving a local prison sentence in the community on mandatory supervision for felony retail theft convictions in Santa Clara County at the time of these crimes. The Yolo County District Attorney’s Office worked in collaboration with all involved counties and agencies to charge Nguyen and Lu for all crimes committed during this time.
District Attorney Jeff Reisig said, “This case clearly demonstrates the necessity and the purpose of Prop 36—to address repeat retail theft offenders. The voters demanded real change in the way these crimes are treated in the criminal justice system, and Prop 36 provided the tools to effectuate that. Repeat offenders like these will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law in Yolo County, and my office will continue to fight to ensure the voter’s will is done.”
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