Supervisors Debate Use of $3.7M Recovered from Andrew Do Corruption Scheme

With the former Supervisor in federal prison, his ex-colleagues must now decide how to allocate millions in seized taxpayer funds.

Federal authorities have officially recovered $3.73 million in taxpayer money from a corruption scheme involving former Orange County Supervisor Andrew Do. Now, the O.C. Board of Supervisors is debating whether the funds should be returned to Do's former district or used to address broader county-wide needs.

Federal authorities have officially recovered $3.73 million in taxpayer money from a sprawling corruption scheme involving former Orange County Supervisor Andrew Do, who is now serving a five-year federal prison sentence.

The recovery, first reported by LAist which uncovered the initial scheme, marks a significant step in closing a chapter of public corruption that saw millions intended for feeding needy seniors diverted through a network of nonprofits and shell companies connected to Do's family.

With the funds now in a federal forfeiture account, a decision is expected soon on returning the money to Orange County. This leaves the O.C. Board of Supervisors—Do's former colleagues—to decide its ultimate destination.

A Debate on the Board

Some supervisors, like Janet Nguyen who now represents Do's former district, argue the funds could be used for municipal repairs, law enforcement, or senior programs directly impacted. “I’d like the money to be used for improving the quality of life for residents in our cities and I will work with them to determine the best use,” Nguyen stated, according to LAist.

Supervisor Don Wagner echoed a similar sentiment initially but noted that the passage of time since the COVID-era scheme might warrant a broader discussion. “The budget is so tight and the needs so great across the county that I believe a conversation would be appropriate now,” Wagner said.

Supervisor Vicente Sarmiento also suggested a focus on current needs, stating, “We will definitely consider what areas of the County were harmed by Do’s scheme, but we must also remember that the funds were intended for relief efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic, a threat we are no longer facing.”

Where the Money Came From

The recovered $3.73 million was seized from several sources, according to court records:

$1.7 million from a bank account of the Viet America Society.
$724,749 from Aloha Financial Investment, Inc., a company used to funnel bribes.
$911,410 from the sale of a commercial property in Santa Ana.
$395,299 from the sale of a Tustin house purchased by Do's daughter, Rhiannon Do.

This amount represents less than half of the nearly $8 million Do admitted to diverting. The county is pursuing a separate lawsuit to recover a total of $13.25 million. That case has been partially paused but is expected to resume.

Andrew Do continues to collect a county pension of approximately $6,700 per month while in prison. The original investigative work uncovering the scheme was conducted by LAist.