San Jose Man Faces Charges of Impersonating a Federal Agent

A San Jose man was indicted by a federal grand jury for impersonating a federal agent with fake documentation Wednesday.

Jonathan Hoang, 47, was taken into custody by San Jose police early on July 20, after being found parked in a truck near the rental house from which he had recently been evicted, according to an affidavit filed by a federal agent in connection with the charges against Hoang.

Hoang is accused of use and possession of a Drug Enforcement Administration counterfeit seal and pretending to be an DEA agent, according to the indictment.

Hoang allegedly rented a house using a counterfeited DEA seal, credentials and a supposed background check. He told the landlord that because of this he could not run a credit check on him, according to the United States Department of Justice.

In addition to the alleged counterfeited DEA documents, emergency lights with a siren, as used by police, were found in the Hoang's truck. He gave a statement that said he knowingly posed as a DEA agent.

The maximum penalty for possession of a counterfeit government agency seal is $250,000 and three years of supervised release and the maximum penalty for impersonating a federal agent is $250,000 with one year of supervised release.

Hoang is being held without bail until a hearing Friday at 9 a.m.