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.