Former California supervisor pleads guilty to COVID-19 bribery scheme

Nov 1

Lauren Taylor Anchor/Reporter

By Lauren Taylor (Anchor/Reporter), Emma Stoltzfus (Video Editor)

A recently resigned Orange County supervisor in California has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bribery in a COVID relief funds misuse scheme. Former supervisor Andrew Do resigned shortly after his plea, as part of plea agreement.

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According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Do agreed to a plea agreement with federal authorities. In his plea, he admitted he accepted over $550,000 in bribes to cast votes on the board of supervisors starting in 2020.

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These votes directed more than $10 million in COVID-19 relief funds to the Viet America Society. His daughter worked as an officer with the group.

Federal authorities say the Viet America Society is an organization that claimed to feed the elderly and disabled. Instead of using the funds for meals, the group spent some COVID relief funds on real estate.

Federal officials reported that only 15% of over $9 million allocated to the group was used for meals.

“I have great sorrow for my actions,” Do said in court Thursday.

He is facing up to five years in prison.

Do’s daughter is coopering with investigators, according to authorities. They don’t expect to charge with any crimes.

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit the United States in 2020, the federal government granted small businesses and unemployed workers funds to help them survive the disruption caused by the pandemic.

Earlier this year, LexisNexis Risk Management estimated COVID-19 aid fraud tops $1 trillion.

The Internal Revenue Service released figures in March of this year. The figures show that nearly 800 individuals have been indicted for possible COVID-related crimes and 373 have been sentenced to an average of 34 months in federal prison.

Tags: American Rescue Plan Act, California, COVID-19, Crime, Orange County, Pandemic

[Lauren]

A RECENTLY RESIGNED ORANGE COUNTY SUPERVISOR IN CALIFORNIA HAS PLEADED “GUILTY” TO CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT BRIBERY IN A COVID RELIEF FUNDS MISUSE SCHEME.

ACCORDING TO THE U-S ATTORNEY’S OFFICE, ANDREW DO AGREED TO A PLEA AGREEMENT WITH FEDERAL AUTHORITIES AND ADMITTED HE ACCEPTED OVER $550-THOUSAND DOLLARS IN BRIBES TO CAST VOTES ON THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS STARTING IN 2020, WHICH DIRECTED MORE THAN $10 MILLION IN COVID RELIEF FUNDS TO THE VIET AMERICA SOCIETY, WHERE HIS DAUGHTER WAS EMPLOYED AND LISTED AS AN OFFICER.

FEDERAL AUTHORITIES SAY THE VIET AMERICA SOCIETY IS AN ORGANIZATION THAT CLAIMED TO FEED THE ELDERLY AND DISABLED… INSTEAD OF USING THE FUNDS FOR MEALS, THE GROUP SPENT SOME COVID RELIEF FUNDS ON REAL ESTATE.

FEDERAL OFFICIALS REPORTED THAT ONLY 15% OF OVER $9 MILLION ALLOCATED TO THE GROUP WAS USED FOR MEALS.

“I HAVE GREAT SORROW FOR MY ACTIONS,” DO SAID IN COURT THURSDAY.

HE’S FACING UP TO FIVE YEARS IN PRISON.

AUTHORITIES SAY DO’S DAUGHTER IS COOPERATING WITH THE INVESTIGATION AND WILL NOT BE CHARGED.

WHEN THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC HIT THE UNITED STATES IN 2020 – THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT GRANTED SMALL BUSINESSES AND UNEMPLOYED WORKERS FUNDS TO HELP THEM SURVIVE THE DISRUPTION CAUSED BY PANDEMIC.

EARLIER THIS YEAR, LEXISNEXIS RISK MANAGEMENT ESTIMATED COVID-19 AID FRAUD TOPS $1-TRILLION DOLLARS.

THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE RELEASED FIGURES IN MARCH OF THIS YEAR – SAYING NEARLY 800 INDIVIDUALS HAVE BEEN INDICTED FOR POSSIBLE COVID-RELATED CRIMES AND 373 HAVE BEEN SENTENCED TO AN AVERAGE OF 34 MONTHS IN FEDERAL PRISON.