A San Jose police sergeant who is running for the city council’s 8th District is facing a criminal charge for alleged mortgage fraud.
Santa Clara District Attorney Jeff Rosen’s office filed a criminal complaint last week alleging that Tam Truong defrauded an Orange Coast Title Company employee. Truong reportedly used his authority to convince the employee that a lien could be eliminated from his home, then sold the home and collected over $500,000. Truong has been charged with one count of grand theft of personal property.
San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan has withdrawn his endorsement of Truong in light of the allegations.
“This is a serious charge that requires a fair, thorough and timely investigation,” he told San José Spotlight. “While I understand Tam Truong has stated he is innocent of this single charge, that must now be determined through our judicial system. Given these facts I am withdrawing my endorsement until such time as this case is resolved.”
Truong has been placed on leave by the police department. He has denied the accusations against him.
“This single-count complaint filed by the district attorney’s office represents nothing more than an allegation. It is based on a misunderstanding of all the facts in this case,” Truong told San José Spotlight. “This matter has been settled through a civil proceeding, which is the appropriate venue. There is no evidence that I intended to mislead anyone. What we have here is a rush to judgment and an effort to criminalize innocent conduct without a full understanding of the facts. The district attorney’s office filed this charge against me on the eve of the election, depriving me of sufficient time to clear my name through the judicial process before voting begins.”
Truong is no stranger to controversy. In 2014, he was accused of wage theft by former employees of a private security company he used to own.
Despite the latest scandal, the sergeant says he has no intention to withdraw his challenge against 8th District incumbent Domingo Candelas.