FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 22, 2024
August 22, 2024
Alyssa Napuri – Deputy Chief of Staff, Supervisor Foley
(657) 334-4930 (text preferred) | Alyssa.Napuri@ocgov.com
(657) 334-4930 (text preferred) | Alyssa.Napuri@ocgov.com
OC Supervisor Katrina Foley Releases Statement Thanking District Attorney’s Office and Federal Law Enforcement for Investigating Corruption of COVID Relief Funds
ORANGE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA — Today, District Attorney Todd Spitzer issued the following statement: “The Orange County District Attorney’s Office had investigators executing search warrants at the locations but we are declining to comment on the nature of investigation due to a sealing order by the court.” Orange County Supervisor Katrina Foley responded with a statement of support for the District Attorney, his office, and Federal Investigators for their investigation and subsequent raids of various residential properties and businesses of VAS principals, Peter Pham and Rhiannon Do.
“Law enforcement headed the call to bring justice to our taxpayers. Thanks go out to District Attorney Spitzer and the Federal Officials for their intervention,” said Supervisor Katrina Foley. “I anticipate law enforcement will uncover additional evidence that proves the brazen criminal conspiracy by these individuals who stole millions to enrich themselves instead of feeding hungry, disabled seniors. People must be held accountable for this disrespect to the community.”
Background:
Following a months long 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 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.
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Orange County Supervisor 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.
Supervisor Foley’s Board appointments include the Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA), OCFA Legislation & Public Affairs Committee Chair, Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA), OCTA Legislative and Communications Committee Vice Chair, Los Angeles – San Diego – San Luis Obispo (LOSSAN) Rail Corridor Agency, Transportation Corridor Agency (TCA), TCA Joint Environmental Committee, Coastal Greenbelt Authority, Newport Bay and South Orange County Watershed Executive Committees, Ocean Institute, San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS) Community Engagement Panel, Spent Fuel Solutions Coalition Co-Chair, Orange County Housing Finance Trust Chair, and the Orange County Juvenile Justice Coordinating Council.
