Support for LAist comes from
Audience-funded nonprofit news
Stay Connected
Audience-funded nonprofit news
Listen

Share This

Imperfect Paradise

Former OC Supervisor Andrew Do is in prison serving a 5-year sentence. What’s next?

A man in a suit jacket and tie looks off to the side, as the name "Andrew Do" appears on a name tag next to the official seal of County of Orange, California. "Vice Chairman, District 1," is written underneath the name.
Orange County Supervisor Andrew Do at the county Board of Supervisors meeting Dec. 19, 2023
(
Nick Gerda / LAist
)

With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today. 

Topline:

Disgraced former Orange County supervisor Andrew Do reported to federal prison in Arizona on Aug. 15. Do had been found guilty of accepting bribes in exchange for directing millions of taxpayer dollars to a nonprofit that was supposed to be feeding hungry seniors during the COVID-19 pandemic. Millions of those dollars were diverted elsewhere. He’s expected to serve up to five years in prison and pay more than $878,000 in restitution.

About the segment: LAist Watchdog correspondent Nick Gerda, who led LAist’s original investigation into Do, talks with Imperfect Paradise host Antonia Cereijido to discuss what questions still remain in the case, how much money is expected to be recovered, and who else might be held accountable for the scandal.

Where can I listen? Listen to this latest episode of Imperfect Paradise wherever you get your podcasts, or here.

Support for LAist comes from
Imperfect Paradise Main Tile
Listen 28:13
Listen 28:13
Former Orange County Supervisor Andrew Do is officially in prison. What questions remain?
Disgraced former Orange County supervisor Andrew Do reported to federal prison in Arizona on August 15th. Do had been found guilty of accepting bribes in exchange for directing millions of taxpayer dollars to a nonprofit that was supposed to be feeding hungry seniors  during the COVID-19 pandemic. Millions of those dollars were diverted elsewhere. Now that Do is in prison, LAist watchdog correspondent Nick Gerda joins us to discuss what questions still remain in the case, how much money is expected to be recovered and who else might be held accountable for the scandal.

If you haven’t already, you can also listen to the Imperfect Paradise episode from October to get an inside look into what led to Nick’s investigation into Do and catch up on the Do corruption scandal.

Imperfect Paradise Main Tile
Listen 38:22
Listen 38:22
OC Supervisor Andrew Do to plead guilty to corruption charge following LAist investigation
An LAist investigation uncovered more than $13 million in public funds directed by Orange County Supervisor Andrew Do to Viet America Society (VAS) without disclosing his daughter was a leader at the nonprofit. County officials now allege that money was “brazenly plundered” for personal gain. Imperfect Paradise host Antonia Cereijido speaks with LAist correspondent Nick Gerda, who broke the story, about the ongoing investigation.

At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.

But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.

We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.

Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.

Chip in now to fund your local journalism
A row of graphics payment types: Visa, MasterCard, Apple Pay and PayPal, and  below a lock with Secure Payment text to the right
(
LAist
)

Trending on LAist