FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 22, 2024
Alyssa Napuri – Deputy Chief of Staff, Supervisor Foley
(657) 334-4930 (text preferred) | Alyssa.Napuri@ocgov.com
OC Supervisor Katrina Foley Releases Statement Following Federal Indictment, Guilty Plea, and Resignation of Supervisor Andrew Do
ORANGE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA — Today, Orange County Supervisor Katrina Foley released a statement following the release of the unsealed federal indictment, guilty plea, and resignation of Andrew Do.
“Instead of serving as an example of what the American Dream can achieve, Andrew Do dragged his family and associates into an American Nightmare. I am disgusted by the staggering level of corruption, greed, and deception described in the federal inditements. Andrew Do and his associates carried out an overt scheme to enrich themselves off our hard-earned tax dollars,” said Supervisor Katrina Foley. “Our tax dollars are not monopoly money for powerful elected officials to use to enrich themselves and blatantly defraud our government. Andrew Do and his enablers must pay the price for their crimes against the people of Orange County.”
Background:
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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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.
