FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 21, 2025
Latisha Townsend – Communications Director, Supervisor Foley
(714) 559-8364 | Latisha.Townsend@ocgov.com
OC Vice Chair Katrina Foley Releases Statement Following Maximum Sentencing Recommendation for Former Supervisor Andrew Do
ORANGE COUNTY, CA – Orange County Board of Supervisors Vice Chair Katrina Foley released a statement following news that prosecutors have requested the maximum sentence of 60 months (5 years) in prison for former Supervisor Andrew Do. His criminal activity includes conspiracy to commit bribery related to the alleged embezzlement of millions in COVID-relief funds by a nonprofit that was supposed to provide meals to seniors and others in need.
The Board recently voted 3-1-1 on to send a letter to the U.S. District judge, calling for Do to face at least five years in prison and repay the money the County lost as a result of his schemes.
“The Department of Justice received our victim impact statement and swiftly acted in the case against disgraced Supervisor Andrew Do. Mr. Do had no regard for his oath of office nor the people in Orange County during his criminal activity, nor since entering a plea agreement," said Vice Chair Katrina Foley. "I continue to support the maximum sentencing and encourage the U.S. Department of Justice to review whether criminal activity occurred after the plea deal was arranged. I commend the prosecution for their unrelenting pursuit of accountability to restore public trust in our justice system.”
Recent BOS Actions:
On April 8, the Board of Supervisors’ decision to delay a vote on a resolution requesting the Department of Justice review whether disgraced former Supervisor Andrew Do complied with the plea deal he entered with the U.S. Department of Justice, pleading guilty to bribery.
On April 22, the Board voted 4-1 on a resolution item to send recommendations to the Department of Justice to review and reassess the terms of Do’s initial plea deal, based on new information regarding improper conduct. Vice Chair Foley encouraged the DOJ to hold Do accountable to the fullest extent of the law.
Full Timeline:
Following months of investigation by LAist, on August 14, 2024, OC Supervisors Katrina Foley and Vicente Sarmiento demanded the County of Orange legal counsel take immediate and swift action to recover the unaccounted public funds from H2H, VAS and their principals through every legal avenue. Additionally, the Supervisors urged County, State, and Federal officials to investigate the improper use of funds from H2H, VAS, and their principals.
On August 15, 2024, following calls by the Supervisors for investigation and immediate action, the County of Orange filed a lawsuit against VAS, Aloha Financial, and their principals after their investigation found that the principals of VAS allegedly purchased six real property investments using funds intended to feed hungry seniors and build a Vietnam War Memorial.
On August 19, 2024, the County of Orange filed a lawsuit against Hand to Hand Relief Organization to recover the public dollars they received for meal recovery during the pandemic. More than $600,000 of the H2H pandemic relief grants were transferred to VAS and H2H allegedly used the funds for illusory loan payments to CEO Nguyen’s separate businesses, private rental payments to Aloha Financial, and for voluminous cash withdrawals.
Both civil cases were transferred to San Diego County Superior Court due to conflicts with Supervisor Andrew Do’s wife, who currently serves as an Orange County Superior Court Judge.
On August 22, 2024, the District Attorney’s Office joined the FBI and IRS-CI teams in executing search warrants on various residential and commercial properties tied to the Viet America Society scandal. The properties are central to the lawsuit filed by the County of Orange on August 15, 2024, which outlines various residential and commercial properties allegedly purchased by VAS principals and their co-defendants who received COVID-era relief funding. Additionally, law enforcement raided Supervisor Andrew Do’s personal residence and law firm.
On Monday, August 26, 2024, OC Supervisor Katrina Foley requested that Supervisor Andrew Do resign from his position, stating, “Supervisor Andrew Do shattered public trust and each day his presence on the Board of Supervisors delegitimizes the office in which we sit. Andrew Do must resign.” Supervisor Do failed to attend the Board of Supervisor’s meeting on Tuesday, August 27th.
On Wednesday, August 28, 2024, VAS attorneys admitted to the Orange County Register that their bank accounts were frozen by federal officials.
On Tuesday, September 10, 2024, the OC Board of Supervisors removed Supervisor Do from all committee assignments and the Orange County Transportation Authority. The Supervisors formally censured Do at the September 24, 2024, Board meeting.
On Tuesday, September 24, 2024, the OC Board of Supervisors implemented Contract Oversight reforms at the direction of Supervisors Katrina Foley and Vicente Sarmiento.
On Oct. 16, LAist reported that the wife of Supervisor Do's top aide was hired for a $275,000 contract. County officials say the work was never turned in. By October 18, the aide separated from the County.
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Vice Chair Katrina Foley was elected to the Board of Supervisors in 2022 to represent the newly established District 5, which includes the cities of Aliso Viejo, Costa Mesa, Dana Point, a large portion of Irvine, Laguna Beach, Laguna Hills, Laguna Niguel, Laguna Woods, Newport Beach, San Clemente, San Juan Capistrano, as well as the unincorporated areas of Coto de Caza, Emerald Bay, Ladera Ranch, Las Flores, Rancho Mission Viejo, Stonecliffe and Wagon Wheel. This is her second term on the Board of Supervisors, where she previously served District 2.
Vice Chair Foley’s 2025 Board appointments include:
Chair – Orange County Housing Finance Trust,
Orange County Audit Oversight Committee,
Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA),
Vice Chair – OCTA Legislative and Communications Committee, Regional Transportation Committee, Los Angeles – San Diego – San Luis Obispo (LOSSAN) Rail Corridor Agency, Transportation Corridor Agency (TCA), TCA Joint Capital Improvements and Projects Committee, San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS) Community Engagement Panel,
Co-Chair – Spent Fuel Solutions Coalition,
Orange County Public Libraries Advisory Board, Coastal Greenbelt Authority, Newport Bay and South Orange County Watershed Executive Committees, Ocean Institute, Orange County Community Corrections
Partnership (OCCCP), Santa Ana River Flood Control Protection Agency,
and the Orange County Juvenile Justice Coordinating Council.
