Huynnh v. Massenya et al
Filing
48
MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by Judge George Jarrod Hazel on 2/23/2018. (kns, Deputy Clerk)(c/m 2/26/18)
IN TIlE UNITF:D STATF:S IHSTRICT COURT
FOR THF: I)ISTlUCT OF MARYLAND
Soull/em Dil'i\'iou
.IAMF:S HUYNH,
1013FEB2b A 10: I b
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Plaintiff,
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v.
Case No.: G.III.I".1 (.2S
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KODZO MASSENYA, i'l :/1.,
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Defendants.
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MEMORANDUM
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OPINION
Plaintiff .lames Huynh brought this action against thc Gaboncsc Republic ("Gabon") and
three individuals.
convcrsion.
defcndant.
Kodzo "Michacl"
Massenya. Charlcs Mbonkc. and Jcan LcGrand. for
ii'alld. and civil conspiracy.
ECI' No. 36
deiendants.
'i 2.
ECI' NO.1. Sincc thcn. this Court dismisscd Gabon as a
and Huynh Hlluntarily
dismisscd Mbonkc and LcGrand as
ECI' No. 37. In its Novcmber 2017 Memorandum
Plaintiff partial default judgment
Opinion. thc Court grantcd
on his claim li)r fraud or dcccit. but did not rulc on thc amount
of damages hc was entitlcd to. ECI' No. "0. Prcsently pcnding bctiJre thc Court is Plaintitrs
Motion to Dctcrmine Damages Without a Hcaring. ECI' No ..•.•. I laving rcvicwcd this additional
submission.
thc Court has determincd
that no hearin!! is neccssarv. See Loc. R. 105.6 (D. Md.
~
-
2(16). For thc li)llowing rcasons. the Motion is grantcd-in-part.
I.
BACKGROUND!
Thc Court laid out thc I~lcts of this case in its May 30.2017
Mcmorandum
Opinions.
and Novembcr
13.2017
ECI' No. 33. ECF No. 40. but restatcs the relcvant l~lCtshcrc. Iluvnh is
r The background facts arc taken n.olll Plaintilrs Complaint. ECF No. I. and doculllents
along with his Motion to Dcrcnnine Damages \Vithout a Hearing. ECF No . ..J..f.
submitted
by PlainlilT
a Virginia resident and at all times relevant to the action owned approximately
in Fairf~lx. Virginia. ECF No. I
Rovcr car dealership
'1'[
in Rockville.
f(llIr acrcs of land
I. S. Iluynh was working at a Jaguar and Land Rovcr/Range
Maryland in January 20 IO. when hc mct Defendant Jcan
LcGrand. Ill. ~ 10. LcGrand visitcd the Jaguar dealership
approximately
lilieen times between
two vehicles during that time. Id
January 20 I0 and October 201 D. purchasing
'i~
10-11.
In
August 2010. Iluynh also met DelCndant Kodzo Massenya when Massenya visited the
Id
dealership.
'1 12. To
United Kingdom.
Id
the best of PlaintifTs knowledge
'i 4. Massenya
represented
and belief: Massenya is a resident of the
that he was wealthy and expressed interest in
Fairlax land. Id ~ 13. Massenya told Iluynh that he knew someone Irom Gabon -
Iluynh's
son of the late President of Gabon. in particular -
who would be interested in purchasing
land. Ill. ~ 14. On or about January 3. 2011. Massenya introduced
Huynh's
Charles Mbonke at the Bethesda Marriott Suites in Bethesda. Maryland. Id
Plaintiffs
introduced
Huynh to Defendant
'1 15. To
and belief: Mbonke is a resident of Gabon and/or France. Id
knowledge
the
the best of
'i 5.
Mbonke
himself to Huynh as the son of the late Gabonese President. Omar Bongo Ondimba.
Ill. ~ 16. According
to I'laintifI
Mbonke also stated that he was working on behalf of the
government
of the Gabonese
Nations. Id
'i~ S. Mbonke
17-1
passport !i'om the Gabonese
"well-spoken.
well-dressed
Republic and serving as a Delegate from Gabon to the United
allegedly showed Huynh what appeared to be a diplomatic
Republic in Mbonke's
and politically
Iluynh again met Defendants
19. 2D II. ECF No. I
'1
informed,"
Ill.
'i
'i
I S. Huynh found Mbonke to be
16.
Mbonke and Massenya at the Bethesda Marriott on January
19. During this meeting. Mbonke allegedly told Iluynh how money could
be "legally printed" using "specially-produced
specific chemicals.
name. Id
white paper" from the United States Treasury and
Id '[ 20. Mbonke and Massenya told Huynh that this special white paper was
2
transported
"officially
from the U.S. Treasury
sanctioned"
to the government
1<1.
by both governments.
white paper in his possession.
~ 22. Mbonke and Massenya
'i 21. Mbonke
with authorization
allegedly
paper into bona tide U.S. currency.
of Gabon. and that this process was
said that he had some of this
Irom the Gabonese
demonstrated
government
to Iluynh how they could turn thc white
1<1. ~ 23. Mbonkc and Masscnya asked Iluynh I()I' $800.000.
which thcy would use to convert the white papcr. double his sllln of $800.000.
lar his land. See i
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