News Summary
Aloha Financial Investment has filed a $15 million lawsuit against former Orange County Supervisor Andrew Do and his daughter, Rhiannon Do. The lawsuit alleges that Do falsely accused Aloha Financial of bribery, while the funds provided were claimed to be a loan intended to assist with a home purchase. The legal action comes amid serious charges against Do for accepting bribes and misusing COVID relief funds, raising scrutiny on local government transparency and accountability.
Orange County, CA – Aloha Financial Investment has initiated a $15 million lawsuit against former Orange County Supervisor Andrew Do and his daughter Rhiannon Do over claims of bribery and financial misconduct. The lawsuit contends that Andrew Do has falsely accused Aloha Financial of bribery as part of his plea agreement related to broader corruption allegations.
According to the complaint filed by Aloha Financial, the funds provided to Andrew Do and his daughter were not intended as bribes but were classified as a loan. This financial assistance was purportedly aimed at helping Rhiannon Do with her home purchase in Tustin. Aloha Financial claims that it paid a total of $381,050 to the duo under pressure from the Viet America Society (VAS) and had no prior knowledge of any illegal activity linked to those transactions.
The backdrop to this lawsuit involves serious criminal charges against Andrew Do, who has recently been sentenced to five years in prison for accepting substantial bribes. His actions reportedly diverted nearly $8 million from COVID relief funds that were originally designated for beneficiaries, including vulnerable seniors. The Aloha lawsuit comes amid ongoing legal actions against VAS and a concurrent case from the county against both Aloha Financial and VAS.
Aloha Financial’s president, Thu Thao Thi Vu, is named within the lawsuit, which calls for the declaration that property seizures affecting Aloha were the result of false claims initiated by Andrew Do. The lawsuit paints Andrew Do as the architect of a scheme that allegedly used Aloha Financial to disburse loan funds benefiting his family, thus intertwining personal gain with his public duties.
The connection between VAS and Aloha Financial is illustrated by their shared office space, as indicated in registration documents. A key figure leading VAS, Peter Pham, has been charged alongside Andrew Do and is currently a fugitive after reportedly fleeing to Taiwan. The legal entanglements of both organizations have drawn significant public and governmental scrutiny.
Further complicating the situation, Aloha was also engaged in business as the Perfume River Restaurant and Lounge, which has now closed its doors. The county’s lawsuit contends that this establishment submitted questionable invoices to VAS for meals that were purportedly catered during the pandemic, raising additional concerns regarding financial integrity and misuse of relief funds.
The scandal surrounding the Do family extends to Rhiannon Do, who is under investigation for potentially making a false statement on a loan application. However, any charges related to her case have been deferred as long as she continues to cooperate with ongoing investigations.
As of now, Andrew Do’s attorney has chosen not to comment on the pending lawsuit, and there has been no response from a representative of Rhiannon Do regarding the allegations. The intricate legal situation around Andrew Do, his family, Aloha Financial, and VAS continues to unfold, indicating a significant impact on the reputation of Orange County amid a broader corruption probe.
The case highlights considerable challenges surrounding accountability in local government and the complexities of financial transactions involving public officials. As the judiciary proceeds with these probing matters, the community awaits further developments in what is shaping up to be one of the more significant corruption cases affecting Orange County in recent history.
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Additional Resources
- LAist: Company Suing Andrew Do for $15 Million
- ABC7: Former Orange County Supervisor Andrew Do Sentenced to 5 Years in Prison
- Los Angeles Times: Andrew Do Sentenced
- CBS News: Ex-Orange County Supervisor Andrew Do Sentenced
- Courthouse News: Former Orange County Supervisor Sentenced to Five Years for Bribery
- Wikipedia: Andrew Do
Author: STAFF HERE COSTA MESA WRITER
COSTA MESA STAFF WRITER The COSTA MESA STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HERECostaMesa.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Costa Mesa, Orange County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as the OC Fair, Concerts in the Park, and Fish Fry. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Costa Mesa Chamber of Commerce and Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Orange Coast, plus leading businesses in retail, fashion, and technology that power the local economy such as Vans, Experian, and South Coast Plaza. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREAnaheim.com, HEREBeverlyHills.com, HERECoronado.com, HEREHollywood.com, HEREHuntingtonBeach.com, HERELongBeach.com, HERELosAngeles.com, HEREMissionViejo.com, HERESanDiego.com, and HERESantaAna.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into California's dynamic landscape.
