ICE arrests Tony Playboy, the 1989 Little Saigon sandwich shop shootout fugitive spotlighted on ‘America’s Most Wanted'
Minh Duy Tong Nguyen, of Vietnam, was convicted of murder in Harris County, Texas, in 1990
HOUSTON / April 28, 2026 — Minh Duy Tong Nguyen aka Tony Playboy, of Vietnam, was once a fugitive wanted for the murder of two people and the attempted murder of three others. He was featured on an episode of “America’s Most Wanted” in 1990 and subsequently captured in Canada and extradited to the U.S. to stand trial for murder.
Nguyen was associated with the Nomads gang, a Vietnamese street gang that was active in the Houston area. The gang was known for violent turf wars and home invasions. In 1988, Nguyen began to see himself as a leader of his own faction. Soon after, a turf war broke out over territory, honor, and women, and so-called Tony Playboy led his faction to eliminate rival Nomads.
"Nguyen came to the United States with lawful permanent resident status in 1980, but he threw away his green card — choosing a life of gang violence and murdering two people on U.S. soil,” said ICE Director Todd M. Lyons. “On Jan. 30, 1989, he was involved in a shootout at Givral’s Sandwich Shop in Houston’s Little Saigon area. The exchange of gunfire resulted in two deaths — three others were injured. While most of the other gang members were captured, Nguyen escaped.”
On Jan. 30, 1989, he was involved in a shootout at Givral’s Sandwich Shop in Houston’s Little Saigon area. The exchange of gunfire resulted in two deaths — three others were injured. While most of the other gang members were captured, Nguyen escaped.”
The episode of America's Most Wanted featuring Nguyen with the street name of Tony Playboy aired Jan. 14, 1990, and helped bring attention to his case. Nguyen made it all the way to Canada before he was captured later that month. In February 1990, he was transported from Toronto to Texas and taken to the Harris County Jail. A jury found him guilty on all charges after only a few hours of deliberation.
Nguyen was convicted of murder in the 263rd District Court of Harris County in May 1990 and sentenced to 45 years in the state prison, though prosecutors considered asking for the death penalty. His legal team appealed, but the appellate court upheld the lower court’s ruling in April 1991.
In the early 1990s, the case served as a wake-up call to most of the public about the severity of gang violence within American communities. For some, “Tony Playboy” became a pop culture crime icon for a short period of time, before his short-lived fame faded beneath immigration proceedings and appeals. Immigration officials began his deportation proceedings in 1991, and by 1998, the Board of Immigration Appeals finalized his removal order.
Nguyen spent over three decades behind bars. ICE Houston took custody of Nguyen April 16 upon his release from state prison thanks to an honored immigration detainer. He’ll remain in ICE custody pending deportation.
Follow ICEgov on X, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, Bluesky or Truth Social.
Source: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE.gov)
