Anaheim woman faces federal charge in puppy's death in Santa Ana

A 75-year-old Anaheim woman faces a federal animal-crushing charge after prosecutors alleged she used food to lure a puppy toward her minivan and deliberately ran over it in Santa Ana, ABC7 Los Angeles reported. The puppy died.

Hanh Minh Nguyen already faced charges brought by the Orange County District Attorney, according to ABC7 Los Angeles. The federal felony charge carries a maximum prison sentence of seven years if she is convicted.

According to ABC7 Los Angeles, law enforcement received a report in September 2026 and obtained video of the alleged incident. The puppy was described as a male pit bull with black-and-white markings.

The affidavit and prosecutors' account describe video showing a woman letting the puppy out of a Honda Odyssey minivan. She then dropped what appeared to be food beside the driver's door and gestured for the animal to come closer, according to the report.

Prosecutors alleged that the woman drove forward, running over the puppy with the rear tire on the driver's side. The vehicle remained stopped on the animal for about 15 seconds before the woman drove away, ABC7 Los Angeles reported.

The report identified the Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture Act as the basis for the federal prosecution. Donald Trump signed the legislation into law in November 2019.

ABC7 Los Angeles also reported that federal officials announced a $5,000 reward and an FBI tip line in August for information leading to successful prosecution of violations of the act. That announcement concerned enforcement of the law, rather than a reward specifically tied to Nguyen's case.

Nguyen is expected to make her initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Santa Ana in the coming weeks, according to ABC7 Los Angeles. The federal complaint contains allegations, not a finding of guilt.