Published: November 6, 2026
APPLE VALLEY & BURNSVILLE, MINNESOTA - A 51-year-old Prior Lake man faces four felony charges across two Dakota County criminal cases after allegedly using checks with insufficient funds to buy nearly $19,000 in merchandise from Menards home improvement stores in Burnsville and Apple Valley earlier this year.
Trong Thanh Nguyen was charged Friday, November 6th, with felony theft by swindle and felony issuance of dishonored checks following an investigation by the Apple Valley Police Department. The latest charges involve two purchases totaling $10,728.79 at the Apple Valley Menards store in May 2026.
Nguyen was previously charged in July with two additional felony counts of issuing dishonored checks following a separate investigation by the Burnsville Police Department involving $8,200.66 in merchandise allegedly purchased from Menards in Burnsville. Together, the two cases involve $18,929.45 in allegedly fraudulent transactions occurring over four days in May.
According to criminal complaints filed in Dakota County District Court, investigators obtained bank records showing the account associated with the checks never held more than $100 at any time in the months before the purchases. Court documents also reveal that Nguyen failed to appear for a scheduled court proceeding in August, resulting in an outstanding arrest warrant in the earlier case.
A new warrant issued November 6, 2026, authorizes law enforcement to apprehend Nguyen nationwide.
Apple Valley Menards Investigation Involves More Than $10,700
According to the criminal complaint filed November 6th, Apple Valley police began investigating suspected check fraud at the city's Menards store after receiving a report from the retailer on June 18, 2026. Investigators learned that two transactions occurred at the store on May 7th and May 9th, involving merchandise totaling $10,728.79.
The first transaction allegedly occurred on May 7th, when a man entered Menards and purchased $6,033.10 worth of merchandise using check number 4041, made out to "Trong Nguyen."
According to the complaint, investigators compared surveillance photographs of the individual presenting the check with known photographs of Nguyen and determined the individual appeared to be him. When Menards attempted to process the check, the bank returned it because the associated account contained insufficient funds. The retailer then tried to contact Nguyen about the unpaid transaction but was unsuccessful.
Two days later, on May 9th, Nguyen allegedly returned to the Apple Valley Menards store and purchased another $4,695.69 in merchandise using check number 4365. Court documents indicate Nguyen identified himself with his Minnesota driver's license during the second transaction, and the license number was recorded on the check. The bank also returned the check for insufficient funds. Investigators allege the retailer attempted to contact Nguyen to recover payment, but the outstanding balance was never paid.
Menards provided investigators with photographs obtained from its security surveillance system. According to the complaint, the individual depicted in both transactions appeared to be the same person. The Apple Valley investigation ultimately resulted in two felony charges: theft by swindle involving an aggregated value exceeding $5,000 and issuing dishonored checks involving an aggregated value exceeding $500.
Earlier Burnsville Menards Case Involves Another $8,200
The Apple Valley allegations follow a separate criminal case filed against Nguyen in July involving similar transactions at the Menards store in Burnsville. According to a criminal complaint filed July 15th, Burnsville police were dispatched to the retailer on May 26th at approximately 3:37 p.m. following a report of suspected check fraud.
An employee told officers that two men had entered the store on May 10th and purchased $2,760.16 in merchandise. The purchase was completed using check number 4361, which reportedly displayed the name "Twin Cities Nail Supply/Trong Nguyen."
According to investigators, Nguyen was identified as the individual who presented the check using his Minnesota driver's license, and his license number was written on the check. When Menards submitted the check for payment, the bank returned it because the associated account had insufficient funds. The retailer attempted to recover the money by mailing a demand for payment to the address listed on the check. However, the correspondence was returned.
On June 12th, Burnsville police received another report from the same Menards store involving an earlier transaction. Investigators learned that Nguyen had allegedly purchased $5,440.50 in merchandise on May 7th using check number 4039. As with the other transaction, Nguyen was reportedly identified using his Minnesota driver's license, with the license number recorded on the check.
That check was also returned for insufficient funds. A subsequent demand for payment was mailed to Nguyen but returned as undeliverable. The retailer provided investigators with photographs from its security surveillance system.
The Burnsville investigation resulted in two felony counts of issuing dishonored checks exceeding $500, with each count carrying a potential maximum prison sentence of five years.
Four Transactions at Two Menards Locations Total Nearly $19,000
The two criminal investigations identified four allegedly fraudulent purchases at Menards stores in Burnsville and Apple Valley between May 7th and May 10th, 2026.
The Apple Valley transactions accounted for $10,728.79, while the Burnsville transactions accounted for $8,200.66. All four checks were allegedly returned because of insufficient funds.
The combined amount represents the merchandise identified in the two Dakota County criminal complaints and does not include additional dishonored checks that investigators reportedly discovered at other retail locations.
Bank Records Allegedly Show Account Never Had More Than $100
One central finding in both investigations involves the financial condition of the bank account associated with the checks. According to the criminal complaints, investigators obtained bank records and found that the account never held more than $100 at any time in the months leading up to the transactions. Despite those limited funds, Nguyen allegedly issued checks ranging from $2,760.16 to $6,033.10.
Investigators also found that Nguyen wrote additional checks at other retail locations throughout the Twin Cities metropolitan area in May. Those checks were also returned for insufficient funds, according to court documents. The complaints do not identify the additional retailers or specify the amounts of those transactions.
The discovery of additional dishonored checks suggests investigators examined financial activity beyond the four Menards purchases specifically identified in the two Dakota County cases. However, the provided documents do not indicate whether investigators filed additional criminal charges related to those other transactions.
Four Felony Charges Filed Across Two Criminal Cases
Nguyen now faces four felony charges arising from the separate Menards investigations.
November 6th Charges — Apple Valley Menards
Count 1: Felony Theft by Swindle — Aggregated Value Exceeding $5,000
Under Minnesota Statute 609.52.2(a)(4), prosecutors allege Nguyen obtained merchandise through fraudulent means, with the combined value exceeding $5,000.
The offense carries a potential maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and/or a $20,000 fine.
Count 2: Felony Issuance of Dishonored Checks — Aggregated Value Exceeding $500
Under Minnesota Statute 609.535.2, prosecutors allege Nguyen issued checks with the intent that they would not be paid.
The offense carries a potential maximum penalty of five years in prison and/or a $10,000 fine.
July 15th Charges — Burnsville Menards
Count 1: Felony Issuance of Dishonored Checks — More Than $500
This charge involves the $5,440.50 check allegedly issued May 7th.
The offense carries a potential maximum penalty of five years in prison and/or a $10,000 fine.
Count 2: Felony Issuance of Dishonored Checks — More Than $500
This charge involves the $2,760.16 check allegedly issued May 10th.
The offense also carries a potential maximum penalty of five years in prison and/or a $10,000 fine.
Although Nguyen faces four separate felony counts, the maximum statutory penalties do not necessarily reflect the sentence that would be imposed if he were convicted.
Previous Failure to Appear Results in Outstanding Arrest Warrant
Court documents filed in the latest Apple Valley case show that Nguyen previously failed to appear for a court proceeding in August 2026 related to the earlier Burnsville Menards allegations. The November 6th criminal complaint specifically states that Nguyen had an active arrest warrant in another case involving dishonored checks because of that failure to appear.
The July case was initially filed as a summons, directing Nguyen to appear in court to respond to the allegations. Following his reported failure to appear, an arrest warrant was issued.
In the latest case, Dakota County District Court Judicial Officer Stacey Sorensen Green signed a new arrest warrant on November 6th. Unlike the original July summons, the latest warrant is explicitly designated for nationwide execution. The warrant directs authorized law enforcement officers to apprehend Nguyen and bring him before the court without unnecessary delay. The documents provided do not establish whether Nguyen has been taken into custody as of November 6th.
Prosecutors Request $30,000 Bail and Ban From All Minnesota Menards Stores
In a bail recommendation filed November 6th, the Dakota County Attorney's Office requested that the court establish bail at $30,000 without conditions or $5,000 with specified conditions in the Apple Valley case.
The proposed conditions include:
Completing the booking process.
Remaining law-abiding.
Appearing at all future court proceedings.
Keeping the court and attorneys informed of his current address.
Staying out of all Menards stores in Minnesota.
The prosecution specifically cited Nguyen's previous failure to appear as a consideration in its recommendation. The proposed restriction would prohibit Nguyen from entering any Menards location throughout Minnesota, not just the Burnsville and Apple Valley stores involved in the criminal allegations. In the earlier Burnsville case, prosecutors had also requested that Nguyen be prohibited from entering Menards stores as a condition of release.
The November 6th warrant directs that Nguyen be held for a court determination of bail and release conditions. The amounts outlined in the prosecution's recommendation are requests and do not establish that the court has formally imposed those bail amounts
As of November 6th, Nguyen faces four felony charges across two Dakota County criminal cases involving nearly $19,000 in merchandise allegedly obtained from Menards stores in Burnsville and Apple Valley. The latest criminal complaint was filed Friday, November 6th, and includes a nationwide arrest warrant. Court documents also identify an outstanding warrant associated with Nguyen's earlier failure to appear in August.
The court documents provided included no conviction or sentencing information for either case.
Nguyen is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
Limitless Media News will continue monitoring court proceedings and provide updates as additional information becomes available.
Written by: Will Wight
