My father Huy Chi (Jimmy) Luong was sentenced to 40 years for allegedly committing money laundering.

My name is Patrick Luong and I am currently 28 years old. My father was incarcerated when I was just a toddler. Due to this, my siblings and I grew up without a father. All we want is to have our father back.

The sentence is beyond shocking for the crime at hand. My father has paid his debts to society by taking accountability. He has served his time. It has almost been 30 years already. During this period, he has reflected on his actions. He has deep remorse for what he had done. He continues to be a model prisoner and works diligently within the federal system. He even strives to expand his education given his circumstances. Beyond that, he still tries to be the best version of himself for his family's sake and the best father he can be despite not being able to be around. Now, more than anything, I want to help my father fight for a second chance in life.

For as long as I can remember, my father was always kind and loving. He never raised his voice and he always spoiled my siblings and I. Even though he was only around for a short time, those were some of the best moments of my life. Our family lived happily as a whole. That was until my father was incarcerated. After that, my family fell apart. My brother and I ended up living with our father’s side of the family, while my sister lived with our mother’s side. Our world turned upside down.

My brother and I grew up without our parents. We never really saw our mother growing up. Things were really tough back then. We had really bad tempers and would always get in fights with one another. However, even though my father wasn’t around, he would always call in and check on us. My father would lecture us over the phone and give us parental guidance in the softest gentle tone he can. He would always tell us to do well in school so we don’t make the same mistakes he did and that he loves us dearly. This shows how much he cared for us and wanted the best for us. Due to this, my brother and I were able to fix our temper and focused on our studies. We both graduated from college with bachelor.

Now, we’re in our mid-late twenties. My siblings and I are working on our careers and even starting a family. My sister recently gave birth to two daughters. On the other hand, our grandma has dementia and it is getting worse and worse as time goes by. Please help us get our father back so that he can reconnect with us, be there for his granddaughters, and spend what little time he has left with his mother before she forgets completely.

My father has come to the realization that the actions he makes can lead to consequences that will change the course of his and his family’s life. However, the sentence does not fit the crime and he deserves a second chance. We urge you to please help my family and I by signing this petition to help my father regain his freedom.