Dentist Receptionist Who Stole Patient Data Sentenced: Prosecutor

MANHATTAN, NY — A former receptionist at a Manhattan dental office was sentenced to at least two years in prison on Tuesday for stealing the personal data of hundreds of patients at the dental office where she worked and using it to buy Apple products, prosecutors said.

Annie Vuong, 31, was an integral part of an identify theft ring that began stealing information like names, birthdays, address and social security numbers from patients at Vuong's Manhattan dental office, district attorney Cy Vance said. Vuong would send the stolen data to Devin Bazile, a former Apple store employee, who would use the information to purchase instant credit offered by Apple.

Between May and November 2012, Vuong copied the data of at least 653 patients and shared it with Bazile, prosecutors said.

In total, Vuong, Bazile and two other co-defendants purchased more than $700,000 in Apple products using the fraudulent credit, according to authorities.

"Annie Vuong exploited her access to confidential patient information to commit large-scale identity theft against hundreds of unsuspecting victims, as a jury found in this 189-count conviction," Vance said in a statement. "Her role as the source of stolen information set this entire scheme into motion, enabling her co-defendants to rack up more than $700,000 in fraudulent purchases."

The group was indicted in February 2015 after more than two years of investigation by Vance's office.

In March, Vuong was found guilty of 189 charges, including grand larceny and identify theft. She was sentenced to serve between two and six years in state prison.

Vuong's three co-defendants have already been sentenced. Baile, 33, was sentenced to serve between three and nine years in prison.

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