Orange County, California – Orange County Supervisor Andrew Do, who has been under pressure to resign amid an investigation into county funds given to a COVID-19 relief nonprofit that employed his daughter, will leave his position immediately and plead guilty to federal charges of bribery conspiracy – prosecutors announced on Tuesday.
Do, 62, agreed to plead guilty to a felony count of conspiracy to commit bribery, admitting that in exchange for bribes worth more than $550,000, he cast votes on the Board of Directors, which, as of 2020, allocated more than $10 million to COVID-19 relief According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, he donated funds to the Viet America Society, where his daughter Rhiannon worked.
According to prosecutors, he could face up to five years in prison.
Prosecutors said some of the county’s money received by VAS was ultimately funneled through an anonymous third-party company that made monthly payments of $8,000 to Rhiannon Do, totaling $224,000 through February 2024. The company also made more than $380,000 to an escrow company and Rhiannon Do used that amount Prosecutors say they had the money to buy a $1 million home in Tustin. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the remaining funds were given to Andrew Do to pay property taxes on properties he owned, and another $15,000 was used to pay one of Andrew Do’s credit card bills.
“By putting his own interests above those of his constituents, the defendant sold his high office and betrayed the public’s trust,” U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada said in a statement. “What’s worse is that the money he misappropriated and accepted as a bribe was taken from those most in need – the elderly and disabled residents. Our community deserved much better. Corruption has no place in our politics and my office will continue to hold accountable officials who deceive the public.”
While agreeing to plead guilty to a federal bribery conspiracy charge, Andrew Do also reached a separate but related settlement with the Orange County District Attorney’s Office under which he will immediately step down as district supervisor and forfeit any retirement funds accrued while authorities said he was involved in bribery program.
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Rhiannon Do has agreed to cooperate fully with the investigation and will be allowed to take part in the diversion program. She agreed to give up her home in Tustin, prosecutors said.
Andrew Do has already been stripped of his committee positions and his seat on the Orange County Transportation Authority board. Do also faced criticism from other supervisors, some of whom called for him to resign because he lacked the authority to remove him from his position.
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One of those supervisors, Katrina Foley, responded to the news of Do’s accusation, writing on X: “Instead of serving as an example of what the American Dream can achieve, Andrew Do dragged his family and colleagues into the American nightmare. “I am disgusted by the astonishing level of corruption, greed and fraud described in the federal indictments.”
Board Chairman Don Wagner said in a statement: “We are grateful for the thorough and careful investigation conducted by federal law enforcement officials. Orange County residents demanded answers and accountability. Similarly, management has taken several steps to address its contracting and oversight practices. This indictment relates only to a federal criminal investigation. The County remains committed to pursuing civil proceedings to hold all responsible parties accountable and recover misappropriated public funds.”
The firestorm surrounding Do began last year when questions arose about COVID-19 relief subcontracts awarded to the Viet America Society, which employed Do’s daughter. The confusion came to a head in August when the county sued VAS, trying to recover millions of dollars for unbilled services related to a contract for a program to provide meals to the elderly and needy during the pandemic.
Do was not named in the lawsuit, but his daughter was accused of using some of the money to buy a home in Tustin. Do also has ties to Peter Pham, head of VAS.
VAS officials insisted they were preparing and delivering meals during the pandemic but did not properly bill for the services. A VAS lawyer said drivers had difficulty collecting all the documents as residents maintained social distancing during the pandemic.
On Friday, San Diego County Superior Court Judge Katherine Bacal — assigned to hear the county’s lawsuit because Do’s wife and Rhiannon’s mother is Orange County Superior Court Judge Cheri Pham — ordered VAS to set aside nearly $4.2 million in case the county prevails in his process.
The county also sued Hand to Hand Relief, which worked with VAS as a subcontractor.
In August, federal investigators searched the homes of Peter Pham and Rhiannon Do, as well as other locations linked to the investigation into the alleged misuse of funds, including Andrew Do’s home.
Do was to leave the Supervisory Board due to his limited term of office at the end of the year.
“This is the day the people of Orange County have been waiting for to ensure that Inspector Do is held accountable for his misconduct,” County Inspector Vicente Sarmiento said in a statement. “The unsealing of the indictments highlights years of unethical and illegal actions that have directly harmed the most vulnerable in our county. We cannot stop investigations until all parties involved are brought to justice and the systemic problems that led to these abuses are addressed. resolved.”