Woman Faces Federal Charges in Puppy's Crushing Death

Hanh Minh Nguyen, 75, of Anaheim, California, has been charged with felony animal crushing, a federal offense. The charges stem from an incident on September 8, when Nguyen allegedly lured a pit bull puppy, identified as "Blackey," under her vehicle with food before intentionally crushing it.

The federal complaint includes an X-ray of the puppy, which officials stated suffered significantly in the minutes following the alleged act, with a crushed skull listed as the cause of death. An autopsy also revealed that the puppy had an intestinal blockage from a large quantity of pistachio shells within the last 72 hours of its life.

Nguyen initially denied the allegations to authorities, claiming the vehicle in question was hers but stating the dog had died a month prior after being hit by another car. However, authorities noted that a Flock Safety camera in the vicinity of the incident helped identify her vehicle. The puppy, identified as a nine-month-old pit bull named "Blackey," was reportedly abandoned by Nguyen, according to earlier statements by authorities.

First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli highlighted the significance of the Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture (PACT) Act, signed into law in 2019, for enabling the federal prosecution. "Luring a defenseless puppy with food only to crush him beneath a vehicle is an act of appalling cruelty," Essayli said in a statement. "We will use every federal tool available to hold animal abusers accountable."

Nguyen faces up to seven years in federal prison if convicted. The federal charges are in addition to pending state charges for felony animal cruelty in Orange County Superior Court. The case is being prosecuted under the PACT Act, which allows for federal charges in cases of animal cruelty and torture.