Andrew Do to Plead Guilty in Federal Bribery Case
Orange County Supervisor Andrew Do, a high-ranking elected official, has resigned and agreed to plead guilty to conspiracy to commit bribery in a scheme involving COVID-19 relief funds. Federal prosecutors announced Tuesday that Do accepted hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes, ensuring that pandemic relief funds intended to feed the elderly and disabled went to a nonprofit organization, which instead diverted much of the money for real estate purchases.
Do’s resignation from the Orange County Board of Supervisors, effective immediately, marks the latest development in the ongoing investigation.
Bribery Scheme Tied to COVID-19 Relief Funds
Federal authorities allege that Andrew Do, a Republican, helped direct more than $9 million in pandemic funds to the Viet America Society, a nonprofit where his daughter, Rhiannon Do, was listed as an officer. Although the funds were supposed to support meal programs for the elderly and disabled, investigators revealed that only 15% of the money was used for that purpose. The remaining funds were spent on real estate and other unauthorized expenses.
“The scheme essentially functioned like Robin Hood in reverse,” U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada said. “Mr. Do and his conspirators stole money from the poor to give to themselves.”
Legal and Financial Consequences
Andrew Do has agreed to forfeit any interest in $2.4 million seized by federal authorities in connection with the case, along with two homes in Orange County. His attorney, Paul S. Meyer, expressed Do’s apology and sadness in a brief statement but refrained from further comment, citing respect for the legal process.
Do has yet to appear in federal court to enter his guilty plea, and no date has been set for the hearing. The investigation into the Viet America Society’s misuse of funds continues, and authorities declined to comment on whether Do’s wife, an Orange County judge, is implicated in the scheme.
Community Reaction to Corruption
Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer criticized Do for betraying the public’s trust, while fellow Supervisor Katrina Foley expressed outrage over the corruption.
“I am disgusted by the staggering level of corruption, greed, and deception described in the federal indictments,” Foley said in a statement. “Andrew Do and his enablers must pay the price for their crimes against the people of Orange County.”
Andrew Do, a Vietnamese refugee, built a career as a prosecutor and city councilmember before being elected to the Board of Supervisors, where he represented the county’s 1st District, including Huntington Beach and other communities. His political career, once marked by success, now faces a dramatic fall due to the scandal.
