SAN JOSE, Calif- A family who ran an unlicensed care home faces felony charges for severely neglecting a dozen mentally disabled adults who were malnourished, beaten, bathed once a month, and forbidden to use toilet paper, said the Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office.
Charges were filled against Kathy Le, 41, George Dac Nguyen, 72, Jennifer Ngo, 63, Charles Nguyen, 25, and Margaret Ngo, 27. They are out of custody and on bail. If convicted, they each face up to 18 years in prison.
"These incredibly vulnerable people were treated worse than the animals that were rescued," said Charles Huang, the prosecutor in the case. "We are hoping anyone else who has had relatives in this home will contact us as soon as possible."
News Release from the District Attorney's Office
On May 31, 2012, relatives of a disabled adult complained to police that they could not visit their relative at the home. They were told he did not even live there. Police were barred entrance, but saw the resident inside. While checking on his welfare, officers found locks on the refrigerator door, and squalor. The residents, who were sleeping on mattresses, looked as through they had been severely neglected. Police removed the residents from the home into Adult Protective Custody. Twenty-five dogs were taken away by Animal Control. Most residents, who suffer from schizophrenia and other severe disorders, were brought to licensed care facilities. They told investigators they were kept in their small rooms virtually all day. Their clothes were washed once a month, the day they were seen by a doctor. The victims reported that their Social Security checks were being taken by the defendants.
A day after being taken from the home, three were taken from Valley Medical Center back to the Cortona home by an unknown person who posed as the victims' relative. They were there for about a month before police came a second time, forced entry and again removed the residents. Officers also found 21 more dogs in the home.
Investigators believe there may be additional victims. Any one who has information on this case should contact San Jose Police Detective Monica De La Cerda at (408) 277-3700
Charles Nguyen
George Nguyen
Jennifer Ngo
Margaret Ngo
