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Former OC Supervisor Andrew Do turns himself in, begins 5-year federal prison term
Former Orange County Supervisor Andrew Do at a county Board of Supervisors meeting in 2023.
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Nick Gerda
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LAist
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Officials on Friday confirmed that disgraced former Orange County Supervisor Andrew Do has reported to federal prison to begin serving a five-year sentence for accepting bribes in exchange for directing millions in taxpayer dollars to a group that was supposed to feed hungry seniors during the pandemic. Little of those funds, however, ever made it to those in need.
The U.S. attorney handling the case called Do a “Robin Hood in reverse” for stealing money from the poor to enrich himself. The criminal probe was sparked by an LAist investigation.
Earlier this week, Do was ordered to pay $878,230.80 in restitution over the corruption scheme.
The details
The Bureau of Prisons confirmed Do turned himself in on Friday at the United States Penitentiary in Tucson, Ariz.
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U.S. District Court judge James V. Selna recommended during sentencing that Do be housed at a low-security federal detention center in Lompoc in Santa Barbara County “to facilitate visitation with family, friends, and loved ones.” But the Bureau of Prisons doesn’t always follow those recommendations, based on factors including bed space and the level of security and type of programming an inmate needs.
The backstory
Do pleaded guilty last year after an LAist investigation exposed he had quietly routed millions in coronavirus relief funds to a nonprofit where his daughter worked. Federal law enforcement launched a probe, and Do pleaded guilty last year and was sentenced in June.
What did the investigation find?
Authorities say Do directed more than $10 million to the nonprofit, Viet America Society. His daughter, Rhiannon Do, held a variety of roles at Viet America Society, according to public documents, including as president of the group's mental health clinic overseeing two subcontracts her father had voted to fund.
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Most of the money he channeled to Viet America Society — more than $9 million — was meant to feed seniors during the pandemic. Do ultimately admitted just 15% of the money earmarked for meals was actually used for that purpose.
What’s next?
Despite Do’s incarceration, there are still several probes and outstanding questions pending in connection to the corruption case. Among them:
- How much will Do have to pay back in restitution?
- How many alleged co-conspirators in the scheme will face justice? Several were indicted earlier this year. One of them, Peter Pham, the leader of Viet America Society, has fled the U.S. and is a fugitive, according to authorities.
- The county has a civil lawsuit pending against Do, Pham, and other alleged co-conspirators in an effort to recoup all of the stolen funds. How much money, if any, will be paid back as a result of that lawsuit?
- The county is in the process of hiring an outside auditor to examine major contracts approved during Do’s time in office.
- Will Rhiannon Do, a key figure in this scandal, be admitted to the bar?
This is a developing story and will be updated.
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