Former head of the Organizing Committee Andrew Do appeared in court for the first time

Former Orange County Executive Andrew Do appeared in federal court Monday on one count of conspiracy to steal millions of dollars intended to feed needy seniors, following a months-long federal investigation by LAist.

As a formality, Do entered a not guilty plea on Monday, but on Thursday he is expected to change his plea to guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bribery as part of an agreement reached with prosecutors.

In a plea agreement announced last week by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Do admitted to accepting more than $550,000 in bribes to direct and vote for more than $10 million in COVID relief funds to benefit a charity associated with by his daughter Rhiannon Do.

At the time of his arraignment, Do was prohibited from leaving the country, moving, or selling or transferring assets worth more than $10,000 without court permission.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office also announced last week that Rhiannon Do will be sentenced to three years of probation under the pre-trial diversion program after admitting to submitting a fraudulent mortgage application that disguised her use of taxpayer money to buy a home in Tustin.

Paul S. Meyer, Andrew Do’s attorney, told LAist in a written statement that “in order to comply with legal process, we will not be making a statement at this time.”

Follow the investigation

In November 2023, LAist began an investigation into how millions of public taxpayer dollars were spent. In total, LAist has uncovered public records showing that more than $13 million in public money was approved by a little-known nonprofit organization said to be led by Rhiannon Do. Most of this money was directed to the group by Supervisor Do out of public view and was never on the public meeting agenda. He has not publicly disclosed his family connections.

Most of the known funding has come from federal coronavirus relief money.

• Read the story that started the investigation: A senior OC official helped funnel millions to his daughter’s center without disclosing family ties
• Since LAist started reporting on it, we’ve also discovered that the group was two years overdue when carrying out the necessary verification of the correctness of spending funds for food.
• And LAist found that the amount of taxpayer money going to the nonprofit was much more than was originally known. The district’s total funding is at least $13.5 million, according to government records obtained and published by LAist.
• After our message, representatives of OK wrote letters of demand to a non-profit organization claiming that millions of funds were missing. They warned the nonprofit that it could be forced to return the funds.
• And LAist found a non-profit missed the deadline established by county officials to provide evidence of how food funds were spent.
• August 2 This was reported by LAist. OK officials were seeking the return of more than $3 million in public funds given to Do VAS and another nonprofit, Hand to Hand.
• Six days later, LAist reported that Orange County officials extended refund requirements millions of dollars in taxes from non-profit organizations and threatened legal action.
• On August 15, LAist reported OC officials sued VAS, its key executives and related businesses, including Rhiannon Do.. The lawsuit alleges county money was illegally used to purchase five homes and was converted into cash through ATM transactions.
• Then, on Aug. 19, LAist reported that O.C. officials announced a second lawsuit against From hand to hand and its CEO to recover millions of taxpayer dollars that were diverted by Supervisor Do.
• LAist reported this news on August 22. that federal agents were searching Rhiannon Doe’s home in Tustin. Later that day, Supervisor Do’s home and other properties were also searched.
• On October 16, LAist reported that Chief Assistant Supervisor Do’s wife was hired on a $275,000 contract. County officials say the work was never delivered, and two days later LAist reported that court records confirmed the convening of a federal grand jury and the issuance of subpoenas.
• Six days later, federal prosecutors announced that Andrew Do had agreed to plead guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bribery. They said Do received more than $550,000 in bribes to lead and vote on more than $10 million in COVID relief funds for VAS. On the same day, he resigned as head.