LAist investigation timeline: OC Supervisor Andrew Do pleads guilty to bribery charges

Federal officials called it “Robin Hood in reverse,” announcing that Orange County Supervisor Andrew Do agreed to plead guilty to bribery charges and resigned Tuesday.

Federal officials said Do and his family received more than $700,000 in bribes. Of the $19.3 million Do donated, U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California Martin Estrada said just 15% went toward its intended purpose: feeding those in need during the pandemic.

Take care of the investigation

In November 2023, LAist launched an investigation into how millions of public taxpayer dollars were spent. In all, LAist uncovered public records showing that more than $13 million in public money was approved for a little-known nonprofit that was led on and off by Rhiannon Do. Most of this money was directed to the group by the Do Supervisor out of the public eye and never appeared on the public meeting agenda. He did not publicly disclose his family connections.

Much of the known funding came from federal coronavirus relief money.

• Read the story that sparked the investigation: Top OC official helped steer millions of people to his daughter’s facility without revealing family connections
• Since LAist started reporting, we also discovered that this group was two years late in carrying out the required audit to ensure that meal funds have been appropriately spent.
• LAist found that the amount of taxpayer money allocated to the nonprofit was equal much larger than initially thought. The county’s total funding is at least $13.5 million, according to government data obtained and published by LAist.
• After our report, OC officials wrote letters of demands to this nonprofit organization claiming millions in funds were unaccounted for. They warned the nonprofit that it could be forced to repay the funds.
• LAist found a nonprofit missed the deadline established by the county government to provide evidence of how meal funds were spent.
• August 2 – LAist reported OC officials demanded the return of more than $3 million in public funds awarded by Do VAS and another nonprofit organization, Hand to Hand.
• Six days later, LAist reported that Orange County officials did so extended refund requests millions of dollars in nonprofit taxes and threatened legal action.
• As reported by LAist on August 15 OC officials sued VAS, its key officials and related companies, including Rhiannon Do. The lawsuit alleged that county money was illegally used to purchase five homes and converted to cash in ATM transactions.
• Then, on August 19, LAist reported that OC officials had done so announced a second lawsuit against Downright and its CEO to recoup millions of taxpayer dollars levied by Supervisor Do.
• LAist announced the news on August 22 that federal agents were searching Rhiannon Do’s home in Tustin. Later that day, Overseer Do’s house and other properties were also raided.
• On October 16, LAist reported that the wife of Overseer Do’s top aide had been hired for a $275,000 contract. County officials say the work was never turned in, and two days later LAist reported that a court filing confirmed that a federal grand jury had been convened and subpoenas had been issued.
• Whether he is resigning after federal officials announced he would plead guilty to bribery charges.

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How to police local government

One of the best things you can do to hold officials accountable is to pay attention.

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