Published: October 27, 2026.
DAKOTA COUNTY, MN: A 44-year-old Minnesota man has been sentenced to 33 months in prison following convictions in three separate Dakota County criminal cases involving a storage unit burglary in Eagan, an identity theft conspiracy involving a fraudulent $20,000 loan, and nonconsensual sexual contact with another inmate at the Dakota County Jail.
Michael Nguyen, 44, of Sauk Rapids, appeared for sentencing on Monday, October 26, 2026, when a Dakota County District Court judge imposed sentences in all three cases. The most significant sentence stems from a January 2025 burglary at an Eagan storage facility, where investigators alleged Nguyen and two accomplices stole tools, sports memorabilia, and other belongings valued between $35,000 and $45,000.
Nguyen received a 33-month prison sentence for third-degree burglary. The court also ordered a previously stayed sentence of one year and one day to be executed in a separate identity theft conspiracy case and imposed a 364-day jail sentence for fifth-degree criminal sexual conduct. All three sentences will run concurrently, meaning they will be served at the same time rather than consecutively. The longest sentence, 33 months, determines the overall imposed term, subject to applicable custody credits and Minnesota's supervised-release rules.
The October 26 sentencing orders mark the latest developments in a series of criminal proceedings dating back to a February 2023 investigation by Eagan police.
Eagan Storage Unit Burglary: $35,000 to $45,000 in Property Reported Stolen
According to a criminal complaint filed May 8, 2025, the Eagan Police Department began investigating a burglary after an officer received a report on February 14, 2025, involving a storage unit in the city. The facility's location or name was not provided.
The victim told investigators that someone had entered his rented storage unit and stolen numerous items, including tools and sports memorabilia. The victim provided police with an inventory of missing belongings, estimating their combined value at approximately $35,000 to $45,000.
Investigators subsequently reviewed surveillance footage from the storage facility, which allegedly captured the burglary as it unfolded during the early morning hours of January 30, 2025.
Surveillance Video Captured Three Suspects Entering the Facility
According to the complaint, surveillance footage showed two vehicles arriving at the storage facility at approximately 6:21 a.m. Two men and one woman entered the building. Investigators identified the men as Michael Nguyen and Michael Ames.
The complaint alleges Ames used a grinder to cut the lock from the victim's storage unit. Nguyen and the female suspect were nearby while Ames cut the lock. Investigators noted that sparks were visible as Ames operated the grinder, indicating the activity would have been apparent to the others present. After removing the lock, all three allegedly entered the storage unit and began removing property.
Court documents describe the items each suspect was seen carrying:
Michael Ames: A red tool case and a large black rolling tool case.
Michael Nguyen: Boxes, toolboxes, bags, and a crossbow.
Female suspect: Boxes and tool cases.
The group allegedly left the storage facility with the stolen belongings at approximately 6:30 a.m., approximately nine minutes after arriving.
Stolen Tools Allegedly Traced to Pawn Transactions
Investigators also discovered that Nguyen pawned several tools shortly after the burglary. According to the complaint, multiple tools associated with those transactions matched items included on the victim's list of stolen property. That evidence, together with the surveillance footage, formed part of the basis for the third-degree burglary charge against Nguyen.
The complaint does not establish that all the reported stolen property was recovered, nor does it specify the total value of the items Nguyen personally removed from the unit.
October 2026 Burglary Sentence
Nguyen was convicted of third-degree burglary under Minnesota Statute 609.582, subdivision 3(a). On October 26, 2026, the court imposed the following sentence:
33 months committed to the Minnesota Commissioner of Corrections, with the sentencing order identifying the Minnesota Correctional Facility in St. Cloud.
Credit for 61 days already served.
A requirement to provide a DNA sample.
Restitution reserved for further determination.
The court directed Dakota County Community Corrections to determine restitution within 60 days, including verifying the claimed losses and considering Nguyen's ability to pay. The sentencing order did not finalize the restitution amount. The court also imposed a $50 fine and waived several other court-related fees.
The 33-month prison sentence runs concurrently with Nguyen's sentences in the identity theft and criminal sexual conduct cases. While Nguyen received an executed 33-month prison sentence for the burglary, another man convicted for his involvement in the same incident received a significantly different outcome. Michael Thomas Ames, who investigators said used a grinder to cut the storage unit's lock, was sentenced earlier in October to 32 months in prison. However, the court stayed that sentence and placed him on four years of supervised probation.
Second Man Convicted in Eagan Storage Unit Burglary Receives Stayed Prison Sentence
A second man involved in the January 2025 Eagan storage unit burglary was also convicted of third-degree burglary but received a significantly different sentence.
Michael Thomas Ames, 49, of Columbia Heights, was sentenced on October 6, 2026, to 32 months in prison. However, Dakota County District Court Judge David N. Lutz stayed the sentence for four years and placed Ames on supervised probation, allowing him to avoid immediate imprisonment.
According to the criminal complaint, Ames admitted to investigators that he used a grinder to cut the storage unit lock before entering and removing property. Although he acknowledged that the victim had not given him permission, Ames told police he believed he was helping the victim. Ames pleaded guilty to third-degree burglary on October 6, 2026, under an agreement recommending a downward dispositional departure from Minnesota's sentencing guidelines.
In a sentencing departure report, Judge Lutz identified several reasons for allowing Ames to receive probation rather than the prison sentence otherwise presumed under the guidelines. The handwritten findings cited an agreement between the parties, remorse, Ames's help to the victim, and his legal amenability to probation. The report also described the offense as less onerous than usual and noted that the victim or the victim's family agreed with or recommended the sentencing outcome.
A downward dispositional departure allows a judge to impose a stayed prison sentence and probation when the sentencing guidelines would ordinarily call for incarceration. The court's findings suggest that Ames' circumstances and the parties' agreement supported a less restrictive sentencing outcome. However, the documents do not explain how Ames reportedly helped the victim or provide further details about the victim's position on sentencing.
As part of his four-year probation, Ames must comply with several conditions, including random drug and alcohol testing, chemical dependency evaluation and treatment, restrictions on possessing firearms, and payment of restitution to be determined by Dakota County Community Corrections. He also received credit for 22 days already served and was ordered to pay $140 in fines and fees.
The sentencing outcomes differed substantially: Nguyen received an executed 33-month prison sentence on October 26, while Ames received a stayed 32-month sentence and four years of supervised probation. If Ames violates his probation, the court could order him to serve the previously stayed prison sentence.
Both men were convicted for their involvement in the same burglary, which resulted in reported property losses estimated between $35,000 and $45,000. The sentencing documents reviewed do not specify the final restitution amounts.
Identity Theft Conspiracy: Fraudulent $20,000 Vehicle Loan
Nguyen's earliest case began with a February 10, 2023, investigation into an attempted fraudulent vehicle loan at a credit union. According to a criminal complaint filed January 29, 2024, a credit union branch manager contacted an Eagan police detective and reported that someone had submitted an online loan application using another member's identity.
The legitimate account holder confirmed she had not applied for the loan. Investigators learned that a woman had contacted the credit union several times and arranged to finalize the transaction that day. The woman allegedly represented herself as the account holder and explained that the seller of a vehicle would arrive to collect the loan proceeds.
Nguyen was expected to pick up the check.
Nguyen Allegedly Promised $5,000 to Collect Fraudulent Check
According to the complaint, Nguyen arrived at the credit union, where officers arrested him after the branch manager confirmed he was there to collect the check. During an interview following a Miranda warning, Nguyen told investigators that a woman identified as Mariah Annamarie Lenon had recruited him to participate in the transaction.
Nguyen reportedly told police he had been promised $5,000 from a $20,000 loan check in exchange for picking it up. He also told investigators that Lenon instructed him to bring the check to Oakdale after collecting it.
A subsequent search of Nguyen's vehicle uncovered credit union paperwork in the backseat and two check stubs belonging to other individuals in the center console.
Investigators Uncovered Connections to a Former Credit Union Employee
The investigation expanded when an Eagan detective coordinated with a Woodbury police detective investigating related activity involving the credit union. According to the complaint, investigators linked Lenon to Samantha Clare Dyer, a former credit union employee with access to the victim's personal information.
Investigators obtained records and an electronic audit trail showing the fraudulent loan application was initially submitted to a North St. Paul credit union branch on January 11, 2023. The application used the legitimate account holder's personal information but substituted a different email address. The detective also discovered that the victim's account had been inactive for approximately three years before being reactivated in connection with the suspected fraudulent activity.
The application listed Lenon's home address.
Toyota Tundra Title and Fraudulent Notary Stamp
Investigators reviewed correspondence dated January 27, 2023, requesting a $20,000 loan to purchase a Toyota Tundra. The documentation included a vehicle title identifying Nguyen as the owner. Nguyen also completed and had notarized an additional document purporting to address a secured interest in the vehicle. However, investigators examined the notary's credentials and determined that the notary stamp was fraudulent.
The complaint also describes a separate incident involving Lenon at the credit union's North St. Paul location. In that incident, investigators alleged Lenon attempted to submit power-of-attorney paperwork involving an elderly man's account and transfer funds from his account into the identity theft victim's account.
Investigators reviewed recorded telephone conversations and determined that the voice of the woman claiming to be the identity theft victim sounded identical to Lenon's voice in another recorded call.
Phone Records and Internet Data Connected the Suspects
A search of Nguyen's cellphone provided investigators with additional evidence. According to the complaint, detectives discovered communications between Nguyen and Dyer discussing purchase agreements for another vehicle.
On February 10, 2023, Nguyen's phone records showed a call to Lenon, followed immediately by Nguyen accessing a notes application containing the identity theft victim's name and address. Location evidence also placed Nguyen at Dyer's residence on the morning of the incident. Investigators obtained internet records showing that calls to the credit union and electronic loan documents originated from Dyer's residence.
In September 2023, investigators interviewed Dyer after learning she was being held at the Washington County Jail. According to the complaint, Dyer denied knowing Nguyen or Lenon, despite investigators having obtained communications connecting the three.
The complaint describes the suspected roles of Lenon and Dyer, but the documents provided do not establish the final disposition of any criminal cases against either woman.
Nguyen Initially Received Probation in 2024
Nguyen was ultimately convicted of felony conspiracy to commit identity theft. On June 18, 2024, Dakota County District Court Judge Kathryn Iverson Landrum imposed a sentence of one year and one day in prison but stayed its execution for three years. Under the original sentence, Nguyen was placed on supervised probation through Dakota County Community Corrections.
The court also ordered 45 days of home detention with electronic monitoring, with two days of custody credit, and imposed conditions including restitution and compliance with probation supervision. A stayed prison sentence meant Nguyen could avoid serving the prison term as long as he complied with the court's requirements. Violations could result in additional sanctions or the execution of the previously imposed prison sentence.
Repeated Probation Violations and Court Interventions
Court records show Nguyen's identity theft case returned to court repeatedly between November 2024 and March 2026 over alleged probation violations.
November 2024: Failure to Contact Probation Officer and Unauthorized Travel
On November 14, 2024, Dakota County Community Corrections submitted a violation report alleging Nguyen had failed to contact his probation officer as directed and failed to obtain permission before leaving Minnesota. The supervising agency requested a warrant for his arrest and court action concerning the stayed sentence.
On November 26, 2024, the court issued an amended sentencing order imposing two days in the Dakota County Jail, with credit for two days already served.
The court also directed Nguyen to contact probation authorities within 48 hours of his release.
April–May 2025: Restitution and Required Assessments
A second probation violation warrant was issued April 14, 2025. This time, probation officials alleged five violations:
Failure to contact his probation officer as directed.
Failure to pay restitution.
Failure to complete a gambling assessment.
Failure to complete a diagnostic assessment.
Failure to complete a psychological evaluation or treatment.
On May 13, 2025, the court imposed a 30-day Dakota County Jail sentence, with credit for nine days served. The amended order also required a chemical dependency evaluation and compliance with recommended treatment.
The court authorized a treatment furlough if the evaluation recommended it, subject to the court's conditions.
August 2025: Additional Jail Time and Treatment Requirements
Another probation violation warrant followed on August 19, 2025. The allegations again included failure to contact probation, unpaid restitution, and failure to complete required assessments and treatment-related obligations.
On August 20, 2025, the court issued another amended sentencing order imposing 120 days in the Dakota County Jail, with credit for five days already served toward that term. The court also authorized a potential furlough to a residential treatment program when a bed became available, consistent with the recommendations of a chemical dependency evaluation.
The amended order continued to reflect the original stayed prison sentence and supervised probation.
March 2026: Further Alleged Violations
The most recent probation violation report among the supplied documents was filed in March 2026. Dakota County Community Corrections alleged that Nguyen had failed to abstain from illegal substances, failed to report for random urinalysis testing, and failed to comply with probation requirements.
The supervising agency requested that Nguyen be summoned to appear in court to address the allegations. These were allegations in a probation proceeding, rather than separate criminal convictions.
October 2026: Previously Stayed Prison Sentence Ordered Executed
On October 26, 2026, the court issued another amended sentencing order in the identity theft case. This time, the order directed Nguyen to serve the previously imposed prison sentence of one year and one day.
The court credited Nguyen with 67 days already served. The prison term was ordered to run concurrently with the sentences in the burglary and fifth-degree criminal sexual conduct cases.
The amended order also listed $355 in fines and court-related fees associated with the identity theft conviction. The listed financial balance may not reflect subsequent payments, credits, or restitution obligations.
Third Case: Nonconsensual Sexual Contact at Dakota County Jail
While Nguyen's other criminal matters were proceeding through the court system, he became the subject of another investigation involving an alleged incident with a fellow inmate at the Dakota County Jail in Hastings.
According to a criminal complaint filed September 25, 2025, a correctional deputy was informed that an adult male inmate had reported unwanted sexual contact by another inmate. The victim told investigators that Nguyen had grabbed and squeezed his left buttock without permission. The complaint also states that Nguyen had been acting unusually toward the victim, including blowing on his neck and making sexually suggestive jokes.
The victim told investigators he had not consented to the physical contact.
Surveillance Footage Reviewed by Investigators
A detective subsequently reviewed surveillance video from the jail. According to the criminal complaint, the footage confirmed that on September 4, 2025, Nguyen used his left hand to touch the victim's left buttocks.
The incident resulted in a charge of fifth-degree criminal sexual conduct involving nonconsensual sexual contact, a gross misdemeanor under Minnesota law. The victim's identity is being withheld to protect his privacy.
Nguyen Sentenced to 364 Days
On October 26, 2026, Nguyen was convicted and sentenced for fifth-degree criminal sexual conduct. The court imposed a sentence of 364 days in the Dakota County Jail, with credit for 15 days already served. The court also imposed a $50 fine and waived $165 in additional court-related fees.
As with the other cases, the court ordered the sentence to run concurrently with Nguyen's burglary and identity theft sentences. Although the court imposed a separate jail sentence for the criminal sexual conduct conviction, the concurrent sentencing arrangement means the 364-day term does not automatically add another year to the 33-month prison sentence.
Three Criminal Cases, Three Sentences
The October 26 court orders establish the following sentencing outcomes:
What Does Concurrent Sentencing Mean?
Because the sentences run concurrently, Nguyen will not be required to complete each term before beginning the next. Instead, the sentences overlap, with the 33-month burglary sentence representing the longest term. Minnesota's standard executed prison sentencing framework generally divides the sentence into two portions: two-thirds served in prison and one-third on supervised release, subject to applicable laws, custody credits, and release requirements.
For a 33-month sentence, that standard division would be about 22 months of incarceration and 11 months of supervised release, before accounting for applicable credits or other adjustments. The sentencing orders do not establish Nguyen's exact projected release date.
Restitution and Financial Obligations
Beyond incarceration, Nguyen faces financial obligations associated with the criminal cases. In the burglary case, the court reserved restitution for further determination.
This is particularly significant because the victim reported losses estimated between $35,000 and $45,000. However, the estimated value of stolen property is not necessarily the amount Nguyen will ultimately be required to repay.
The court directed Dakota County Community Corrections to review the claimed losses, verify supporting documentation, and consider Nguyen's ability to pay before determining restitution. The identity theft case also included restitution requirements in the original sentencing order.
The supplied October 2026 orders do not establish a final combined restitution amount across the three cases.
Court Proceedings Span Nearly Four Years
The three cases reflect separate incidents and investigations over several years. The identity theft investigation began in February 2023 and resulted in a conviction and a stayed prison sentence in June 2024. The Eagan storage unit burglary occurred in January 2025, while Nguyen was serving probation in the earlier identity theft case. The third criminal case arose from an incident at the Dakota County Jail in September 2025.
Meanwhile, the identity theft conviction continued to generate probation violation proceedings, including arrest warrants, additional jail sentences, and treatment-related requirements.
The October 26, 2026, sentencing orders brought the three criminal cases together through concurrent sentences, with the court ordering Nguyen to serve the 33-month prison term for burglary while also serving the sentences imposed in the other two cases. The documents reviewed do not establish whether all stolen property was recovered, the final restitution Nguyen must pay, or the precise date he may become eligible for supervised release.
This report is based on criminal complaints, guilty plea petitions, probation violation documents, and sentencing orders filed in Dakota County District Court. The report attributes allegations in the original criminal complaints to investigators and distinguishes them from the convictions and sentences documented in the court's final orders.
Pictured: Michael Nguyen. Provided by Dakota County Jail. Limitless Media News was not able to obtain a mugshot for Michael Ames
Written by: Will Wight
