ALEXANDRIA, Va. – An Annandale man pled guilty today to impersonating a federal officer and possessing imitation federal law enforcement credentials.
According to court documents, on Nov. 5, 2024, the date of the 2024 federal general elections, Alex Chieu Nguyen, 44, traveled to Timber Lane Elementary School, which was a polling site in Falls Church. Nguyen arrived in a black SUV wearing dark sunglasses, a blue zip-up sweatshirt emblazoned with the FBI logo, and a fraudulent badge. In a holster, Nguyen was carrying an air pistol resembling a Glock handgun. Nguyen approached election officials and greeters and falsely informed them that he was assigned to the FBI’s “Election Security.” Nguyen has never been an employee of the FBI and was not authorized to possess or use a badge or credential identifying him as a federal law enforcement officer.
Nguyen returned later and entered the building where active polling was taking place. When the polling site’s chief election official asked to see Nguyen’s credentials, Nguyen presented his fake FBI badge and a fraudulent credential identifying him as a special agent of the FBI. Nguyen again left the school, but was arrested later that day. Nguyen is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 14, 2027. He faces up to three years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Theophani K. Stamos, First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Jeffrey L. Tyler, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office's Criminal Division, made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Michael S. Nachmanoff accepted the plea.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jack Morgan and Robert McManigal are prosecuting the case.
Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:26-cr-147.