Woman Accused of Arson for Restaurant Insurance

A Garden Grove woman was arrested Thursday and charged with burning down her restaurant so that she could collect the insurance money.

Nga Tuyet Nguyen, 37, owner of the former Au Bon Temps de Saigon in Stanton, was indicted Wednesday on charges of arson, mail fraud and conspiracy in the Jan. 13, 1987, fire that destroyed the restaurant, according to Assistant U.S. Atty. Kendra McNally.

A second suspect, Diep Lam Harris, 45, of Westminster was indicted in November on charges of arson and conspiracy. Harris is free on $50,000 bail, with next week’s trial date likely to be reset, officials said.

Police immediately suspected arson in the 3 a.m. blaze that leveled the small restaurant in Katella Square, a strip shopping district at Katella and Western avenues. There were no injuries.

The fire caused $100,000 damage to the building, plus about $50,000 to equipment, police said. Several adjacent businesses sustained smoke and water damage.

A claim was submitted to Western Underwriters Insurance Co. in Huntington Beach, but the indictment does not specify how much, if any, of the money Nguyen received.

According to the indictment, Nguyen and Harris removed kitchen equipment from the restaurant a few days before the fire and stored it in Harris’ garage.

Witnesses reported seeing Harris’ car speeding away from the scene following the fire and gave the car’s license number to police, who questioned him shortly afterward.

The family-oriented restaurant that served Vietnamese and French food was not rebuilt, according to Nancy Zinsli, the owner of Katella Square. A liquor store is scheduled to open in its place this year.

If convicted of the three counts, Nguyen could face up to 20 years in prison and a $750,000 fine, officials said.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, the Stanton police and the county Fire Department.