Suspected area robber gets death
Deepa Bharath
A 28-year-old gang member, under investigation for jewelry store
robberies in the Newport-Mesa area, was sentenced to death Friday for
murdering four patrons of an El Monte pool hall four years ago.
Anh The Duong eluded police for about two years, triggered a
nationwide manhunt and was eventually featured on the television show
“America’s Most Wanted.” Costa Mesa police arrested him on July 16,
2001 while he was playing basketball at the 24 Hour Fitness on Anton
Boulevard.
Duong was sentenced in Los Angeles Superior Court in Pomona before
Judge Robert Martinez. Duong had reportedly tried to take his own
life two months after his arrest by gouging his arms. He sunk into a
coma for a few months, but survived the attempted suicide. Duong was
present at his sentencing Friday where he reportedly apologized to
the families of all but one of his victims, who were attending a
birthday party at the pool hall.
This, however, will not be Duong’s last court appearance. He faces
more trials in Santa Clara County in Northern California on federal
racketeering charges. He is also accused of killing two men while
allegedly committing robberies at stores in San Jose and Fremont.
Most of his heists are said to include weapons such as handguns and
assault-style rifles.
Locally, Costa Mesa and Newport Beach police have investigated
Duong in connection with two jewelry store robberies -- one at
Torneau Watch Co. in South Coast Plaza in September 2000 and the
other involving a dramatic shootout at Fashion Island’s Traditional
Jewelers that left one security guard wounded.
Costa Mesa Police have closed the investigation for lack of
evidence, Det. Sgt. Jack Archer said.
“We’re pretty sure he was the one who was responsible,” he said.
“But we don’t have enough evidence.”
Two of the several Rolex watches stolen in that armed heist have
been recovered, Archer said. He added that the information from Costa
Mesa’s evidence may be used as background in Duong’s upcoming trial
in the Bay Area.
Newport Beach detectives are still investigating the Fashion
Island incident, Lt. Tom Gazsi said.
“The evidence we have indicates he is responsible for that
robbery,” he said. “But the investigation is ongoing.”
Gazsi said Duong’s arrest was made possible thanks to a successful
collaboration between Newport Beach, Costa Mesa, Fountain Valley and
Santa Ana police departments whose detectives, after a lengthy
investigation, tracked him down to Costa Mesa’s Westside.
Detectives worked undercover to capture Duong. Newport Beach
Police Det. Mark Hamilton, who received an Award of Merit from the
department for his undercover work in Duong’s case, said in a
previous interview that he knew he was up against someone with a high
propensity for violence.
“He was an extremely dangerous criminal,” he said.
Undercover, Hamilton played basketball with Duong at the gym, and
then helped SWAT team members move in on Duong and arrest him without
incident.
Costa Mesa Police Chief Dave Snowden said he is pleased that Duong
paid the ultimate price for his crimes.
“Sometimes, justice is slow,” he said. “But this just goes to
prove that the system does work.”
Duong sentence, however, will be automatically appealed to the
state Supreme Court.
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