Former Orange County Supervisor Andrew Do is serving a five‑year federal sentence after pleading guilty to taking more than $800,000 in bribes that siphoned off funds earmarked for senior and disability meal programs during the COVID‑19 pandemic. The recovered money, less than half of the $7.9 million Do admitted to diverting, is now at the center of a heated debate among county supervisors about whether it should be returned to the First District or redirected to current needs.

Do’s $800,000 Bribe Trail and the $7.9 Million Loss

According to the source, Do funneled illicit payments through his daughters,including a down payment on a house later forfeited by his youngest daughter Rhiannon Do.. The scheme diverted $7.9 million from specific meal contracts, harming vulnerable residents in the First District. A civil lawsuit claims the total loss could be as high as $13.25 million, covering money given to Viet America Society and Hand to Hand Relief Organization.

Nguyen Demands Return to the First District

Supervisor Janet Nguyen has been vocal in demanding that the recovered funds be returned to the First District, arguing that every other district benefited from community projects while her district was deprived. in a mass email to constituents, Nguyen stated, "This money was stolen from the First District,and it must come back to the First District." The source notes that several other supervisors support directing the money back to seniors and people with disabilities in the former supervisor’s district.

Wagner and Sarmiento Push for Re‑Prioritization

Supervisor Don Wagner argued that the problems the money was meant to address are now behind us and that a tight budget requires a discussion on how best to spend the recovered funds. Likewise, Supervisor Vicente Sarmiento echoed the need to consider current resident needs while acknowledging the funds were earmarked for COVID‑19 relief, a threat no longer present. The source reports that the amount recovered so far is less than half of the original diversion .

Fugitive Co‑Conspirator and Ongoing Restitution Efforts

The U.S. Attorney’s Office is seeking restitution upon a likely conviction in the ongoing criminal case against Do’s alleged co‑conspirator Peter Pham, who fled to Taiwan in late 2024 and remains a fugitive. The source indicates that the county’s civil lawsuit is scheduled for trial in November 2027.

Great Park Draws 6,000 Fans for U.S. Soccer Practice

In unrelated local news, more than 6,000 fans gathered at the Great Park Sports Complex in Irvine to watch a public practice session of the U .S . Men’s National Soccer Team ahead of the 2026 World Cup. The team is using the Great Park’s facilities as its training base, offering a rare chance for fans to see them without a ticket after many were disappointed by a lottery system for access. The U.S. will play its group stage matches at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood against Paraguay on June 12, Australia on June 19, and Turkey on June 25.