Vietnamese pimp convicted of prostitute murder faces 35 years
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A Vietnamese pimp who used nail salons in San Jose and Campbell as a front for his brothels has been convicted of killing a prostitute in a 16-bullet barrage.
Ba Tran, 30, now faces 35 years to life for killing Dieu Nguyen, whose bullet-riddled body was found about two years ago in her car by the side of Southwest Expressway near Bascom Avenue.
Tran is set to be sentenced Feb. 25. He faces 35 years to life in state prison.
Defense attorney Tony Serra argued Nguyen was killed by Asian gang members angry at the 30-year-old immigrant for failing to pay them. She left behind a 4-year-old daughter.
But it took the jury only about four hours to find that Tran acted alone, in a verdict announced Tuesday, prosecutor Matt Braker said. There was one Vietnamese person on the jury, who the rest of the group elected as the forewoman, he said.
"We're happy the jury did the right thing,'' Braker said.
Braker said Tran had three motives -- money, elimination of competition and bragging rights on the street.
The stage was set for the killing after Nguyen bought a San Jose nail salon that doubled as a brothel from Tran's girlfriend. Braker said Tran was angry because Nguyen apparently hadn't paid that debt in full.
Tran also wanted Nguyen to pay him a kickback for bringing his prostitutes from salons in San Jose and Campbell to work in her salon/brothel. But she apparently refused.
