A California official has agreed to plead guilty to a conspiracy charge, marking a significant development in a federal investigation into the misuse of COVID-19 relief funds.
Prosecutors allege that Orange County First Supervisor Andrew Do was involved in a scheme involving a charity to funnel millions of dollars meant to aid vulnerable residents during the pandemic into personal gain.
On Tuesday, Do agreed to sign a guilty plea to conspiracy to commit bribery in connection to the scheme.
As part of his plea agreement, Do will step down from his position, making him the first Orange County supervisor to face such charges in five decades, according to District Attorney Todd Spitzer.
“Mr. Do unequivocally broke the trust of the public,” Spitzer said during a joint news conference with federal prosecutors.
Orange County First Supervisor Andrew Do (R) listens to Supervisor Todd Spitzer (L) during a meeting in Santa Ana, California, on June 27, 2017. Do has agreed to plead guilty to a conspiracy charge,.
Sam Gangwer/The Orange County Register/ AP
The case comes after federal authorities had launched a probe into the handling of COVID-19 relief funds distributed to local charities. The investigation revealed that the Viet America Society, a nonprofit touted by Do that’s meant to provide meals for elderly and disabled residents, misappropriated nearly $10 million, with only a fraction of the money going toward its intended purpose.
According to U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada, just 15 percent of the funds were used for the charity’s mission, while the rest was diverted to real estate investments and other personal interests.
The case intensified after federal agents raided the home of Do and his daughter, Rhiannon Do, although authorities confirmed that she will not face charges and is cooperating with the investigation.
According to prosecutors, federal authorities seized $2.4 million in connection with the probe and Do agreed to forfeit any interest in that money and two homes in Orange County.
Do’s legal counsel has offered little comment on the matter aside from issuing a brief apology on his behalf.
Paul S. Meyer, an attorney for Andrew Do, said: “Out of respect for the legal process, no statement is appropriate at this time. However, it is appropriate to convey Andrew Do’s sincere apology and deep sadness to his family, to his constituents in District One and to his colleagues.”
Do, a prominent Republican figure and former Vietnamese refugee, has had a long-standing political career, serving as a prosecutor and city councilmember before securing a seat on the influential five-member Board of Supervisors.
Orange County Supervisor Katrina Foley has called condemned the “staggering level of corruption” uncovered in the investigation.
“Andrew Do and his enablers must pay the price for their crimes against the people of Orange County,” Foley said in a statement Tuesday.
The investigation remains ongoing, with authorities continuing to explore those connected to the scheme.
While Do’s wife is a sitting judge in Orange County, Estrada declined to answer reporters’ questions about whether she was implicated in the scheme, only stating that the investigation was ongoing.
This article includes reporting from The Associated Press.
