The Board of Supervisors will ask the U.S. Department of Justice to review a bribery plea deal struck last year allowing disgraced former Supervisor Andrew Do to serve up to 5 years in prison.

Do was allowed to plead guilty without an indictment on a single count of conspiracy to commit bribery of more than $10 million in federal COVID relief funds that were funneled to a non-profit affiliated with his daughter, Rhiannon Do.

He is scheduled to be sentenced June 9.

“A federal prosecutor who looks at the totality of the evidence will hopefully come to the same conclusion as the general public: Andrew Do is getting a special deal because he was a public official,” said Supervisor Janet Nguyen. “I want to see justice in this case. Five years in prison is not punishment, Andrew will be out of custody in the blink of an eye.”

In a 4-1 vote at today’s Board meeting, the Orange County Board of Supervisors passed a resolution that directed County Counsel to send a letter to the U.S. Attorney General advocating their position. The supervisors agreed that Do was given an extraordinarily light sentence compared to other similar COVID fraud and political corruption cases.

“We are the victims. We are the voice of thousands of constituents who are also victims,” Supervisor Janet Nguyen said. “Victims usually have a voice in the justice system. Prosecutors often consider their opinions through the criminal justice process but no one asked my constituents what they wanted.”

More investigation is needed because the DOJ’s plea agreement “fails to reflect Do’s misconduct in improperly accessing privileged and confidential communications from County Counsel related to the plea negotiations and subsequent legal matters,” the resolution said. The plea also “raises concerns about disparate treatment” surrounding the Equal Protection Clause of the 14^th Amendment.

Do weaved an intricate web of conspirators including Peter Pham, who was awarded funds to produce senior meals, construct a Vietnam War memorial, manage community events, and provide healthcare services. Either a small portion or none of these things were delivered. Some of the money went toward the purchase of homes for Rhiannon Do and others.

The County has named both Pham and Rhiannon Do in a civil suit and they are still under investigation.

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Supervisor Janet Nguyen represents the First District of Orange County Board of Supervisors, which is the cities of Cypress, Fountain Valley, Garden Grove, Huntington Beach, La Palma, Los Alamitos, Seal Beach, Westminster and the unincorporated areas of Midway City and Rossmoor. Supervisor Nguyen served in the California State Senate, California State Assembly and as Orange County Supervisor and Garden Grove City Councilmember. 

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