A woman from Pasadena has pleaded guilty to stalking and making threats against a man and his wife, including a chilling threat to bomb a U.S. consulate in Vietnam. Natalie Nguyen, 39, admitted her crimes in a federal court in California on Wednesday.
According to court documents, Nguyen harassed a man identified as “T.H.” and his wife from April 2023 until February 2024. During this time, she sent multiple threatening emails, including one where she discussed hiring a hitman for $15,000 to kill the wife.
Nguyen also impersonated T.H. and his wife in emails sent to U.S. officials. In one October 2023 message, she threatened to kill consulate employees who were delaying her wife’s visa application. She claimed, “I will kill every [expletive] one of you.”
In another message sent in January 2024, posing as T.H.’s wife, she warned that a device would be detonated at the consulate in Ho Chi Minh City and in San Francisco. She expressed anger over her separation from her husband, stating, “Everything will be exploded around New Year or after.”
Authorities revealed that Nguyen had also stalked five employees of the U.S. consulate. In her threats, she mentioned setting off grenades during the Lunar New Year celebrations.
Nguyen’s lawyer, Benjamin P. Lechman, emphasized that no one was physically harmed and noted that Nguyen has been addressing her mental health issues since the incidents. He expressed hope that she can move forward positively after taking responsibility for her actions.
Nguyen has been in federal custody since February 2024. Her sentencing is scheduled for June 18, where she could face a maximum of 15 years in prison—five years for stalking and up to ten years for making threats.