LAist investigation timeline: OC Supervisor Andrew Do pleads guilty in bribery scheme

Federal officials called it “Robin Hood in reverse,” announcing that Orange County Supervisor Andrew Do had agreed to plead guilty to conspiracy to commit bribery charges and was resigning from office on Tuesday.

Federal officials said Do received more than $550,000 in bribes. Of the $9.3 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 funneled to the group by Andrew Do 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 sought the return of more than $3 million in public funds awarded by Andrew Do to 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 led by Andrew Do.
• LAist announced the news on August 22 that federal agents were searching Rhiannon Do’s home in Tustin. Andrew Do’s home and other properties were also searched later that day.
• On October 16, LAist reported that general counsel Andrew Do’s wife 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.
• Andrew Do resigns after federal officials announced he was pleading guilty to bribery conspiracy 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.

The city council, board of supervisors, school board, and others hold public meetings that anyone can attend. These are moments when you can talk directly to your elected officials and hear about the policies they vote on that impact your community.