HOUSTON, TX — A man once featured on “America’s Most Wanted” for a deadly 1989 gang shootout that killed two people in Houston’s Little Saigon is now back in federal custody after serving decades in prison. Minh Duy Tong Nguyen, known as “Tony Playboy,” was taken into ICE custody on April 16 following his release from a Texas state prison.
Nguyen, a Vietnamese national and lawful permanent resident at the time of the crimes, had been convicted of murder and sentenced to 45 years for his role in the restaurant shooting. Immigration authorities say he will remain detained pending deportation.
1989 Shootout Left Two Dead, Three Wounded
The case traces back to January 30, 1989, when a gun battle erupted inside Givral’s Sandwich Shop in Houston’s Little Saigon district. The shooting left two people dead and three others injured, marking one of the most violent episodes tied to Vietnamese gang activity in the area at the time.
Prosecutors said Nguyen was aligned with the Nomads, a Vietnamese street gang involved in turf conflicts and violent rivalries. Authorities alleged he led a faction during an internal dispute that escalated into the deadly confrontation.
After the shooting, Nguyen fled the United States, avoiding immediate arrest while several others involved were captured.
National Attention Led to Arrest
Nguyen’s case gained national exposure when he was featured on “America’s Most Wanted” in January 1990. The broadcast helped authorities track him to Canada, where he was arrested later that same month.
He was extradited back to Texas in February 1990 and held in Harris County Jail. A jury convicted him of murder in May 1990 after only a few hours of deliberation. Although prosecutors considered pursuing the death penalty, Nguyen received a 45-year prison sentence.
Appeals filed by his legal team were denied, with an appellate court upholding the conviction in April 1991.
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Key Points
• Minh Duy Tong Nguyen, known as “Tony Playboy,” taken into ICE custody April 16
• Convicted in 1990 for Houston shootout that killed two and injured three
• Faces deportation after serving more than three decades in prison
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Deportation Proceedings Resurface After Release
Immigration proceedings against Nguyen began shortly after his conviction, with a final order of removal issued in 1998 by the Board of Immigration Appeals.
Despite that order, Nguyen remained incarcerated in Texas for more than 30 years. His transfer to ICE custody came immediately after his release, following an honored immigration detainer.
“This case reflects a long-standing effort to ensure individuals convicted of serious violent crimes are removed following their sentences,” ICE officials said in a statement.
Current Status
Nguyen is currently being held by ICE in Texas as officials prepare to carry out his removal order. Deportation proceedings are expected to move forward now that his state sentence has been completed.