The FBI Philadelphia Field Office and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania have officially added Trung Duc Lu to the Bureau’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list. Federal authorities are offering a reward of up to $1 million for information leading directly to the arrest of Lu, who is wanted for his alleged role in a gruesome 2014 double murder and kidnapping involving a debt over a marijuana distribution operation.
The case dates back to August 2014, when two brothers and a friend—all drug dealers operating between Philadelphia and New York—reportedly gambled away more than $100,000 in consigned drug money. Investigators say Lu and several co-conspirators were dispatched from New York to Philadelphia to collect the debt. The victims were lured to a home in Southwest Philadelphia, where they were bound, savagely beaten, and forced to call one another to the location.
According to FBI Special Agent Scott Baber, the lead investigator, the victims were eventually driven to a parking lot along the Schuylkill River. There, they were stabbed and thrown into the water with their bodies weighted down by buckets.
While the two brothers perished, the third victim, known by the pseudonym “Sonny,” survived the ordeal. He managed to escape the river and flag down a motorist, leading to a police response that uncovered a “house of horrors” at the initial kidnapping site.
“Adding Trung Lu to the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list reflects the seriousness of his alleged crimes and our unwavering commitment to bringing him to justice,” said Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Philadelphia Field Office. Jacobs emphasized that the Bureau will continue to leverage international resources to locate Lu, regardless of how much time has passed.
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Lu is a Vietnamese national and U.S. permanent resident who is believed to have fled to Vietnam shortly after the murders. Investigation into his background revealed he is a suspected member of the “Born to Kill” (BTK) street gang, an organization with roots in New York City’s Chinatown. He is described as 5’7” tall with black hair and brown eyes, featuring extensive tattoos on his back, chest, and both arms. By profession, he is a nail technician and speaks both English and Vietnamese.
While other accomplices have been handled by the justice system—including local contact Tam Le, who died in prison in 2025 while on death row—Lu remains the final suspect at large. The break in the case came after years of analyzing burner phone records and securing the cooperation of a co-conspirator who flipped in exchange for protection from a drug cartel.
Agent Baber noted that despite his flight, Lu still has ties to the United States, including children. “I would encourage any family member or friend—or anyone who has any information at all—to reach out to us so that we can try to work with that person to encourage Trung Lu to self-surrender so that his rights are fully met,” Baber said. He added that as a permanent resident, Lu is entitled to due process and legal representation in the U.S., protections that may not be guaranteed if he is apprehended by foreign authorities.
The FBI warns that Lu should be considered armed and dangerous and is an international flight risk. Anyone with information regarding his whereabouts is urged to contact their local FBI office, the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate, or submit a tip through 1-800-CALL-FBI.
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