Federal Charges Filed Against Anaheim Woman for Crushing Puppy Under Minivan
A 75-year-old resident faces up to seven years in prison after prosecutors allege she lured a pit bull puppy with food before driving over it in Santa Ana.
By Takeshi Faure ·
The Justice Department announced on Friday that a 75-year-old Orange County woman faces federal charges for intentionally killing a pit bull puppy by running it over with a minivan.
Hanh Minh Nguyen, of Anaheim, was charged Thursday with animal crushing, a felony punishable by up to seven years in federal prison. Prosecutors allege she committed the act in September 2026 in Santa Ana.
Court papers describe a sequence of events captured on video. A woman in a Honda Odyssey opened a door to release a black and white male puppy from the vehicle. The animal moved underneath the minivan, and the driver closed the door. She then opened the door again to drop food on the street near the driver's side and motioned for the puppy to approach the food.
As the driver pulled forward, the rear driver's side tire struck the puppy. The vehicle stopped with the tire resting on the animal for approximately 15 seconds before the driver moved away, according to the affidavit filed with the complaint.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli stated that luring a defenseless puppy with food to crush it beneath a vehicle was an act of appalling cruelty. He credited the Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture Act, or PACT Act, for allowing federal charges in this case.
President Donald Trump signed the PACT Act into law in November 2019. The statute criminalizes participation in animal abuse, including the creation of animal crushing videos, and carries penalties of up to seven years in prison. Federal law enforcement officials announced a $5,000 reward and an FBI tip line in August to gather information on violations of this law.
Nguyen is expected to make her initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Santa Ana in the coming weeks. She also faces separate charges from the Orange County District Attorney. The U.S. Attorney's Office encourages the public to submit evidence such as photos, videos, dates, times, and locations to the FBI via email at L.A. - AnimalCrimesTipline@ic.fbi.gov.
