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Fraud

Fugitive Founder of Shuttered Non-Profit Accused of Bribing Orange County Supervisor

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

The founder of a now-shuttered non-profit organization, Viet America Society (VAS), and its associate, Hand-to-Hand Relief Organization Inc. (H2H), have been accused of bribing then-Orange County Supervisor Andrew Hoang Do to obtain approximately $12 million in COVID-19 pandemic-related funds. Peter Anh Pham, 65, of Garden Grove, and Thanh Huong Nguyen, 61, of Santa Ana, are charged with various federal crimes, including conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and concealment money laundering. Pham is considered a fugitive from justice, while Nguyen is expected to appear in court on Monday.

Key Takeaways:

  • The indictment alleges that Pham and Nguyen bribed then-Orange County Supervisor Andrew Hoang Do to obtain approximately $12 million in COVID-19 pandemic-related funds.
  • Pham and Nguyen falsely represented that they would reimburse the county for any funds not spent for the contract's intended purpose, and also falsely certified that all funds would be used solely for the grant's intended purpose.
  • The county wired funds to Pham and Nguyen, who then transferred most of the money to other entities they controlled, spending large portions of the funds on personal expenses and investments.
  • Pham also used county money to pay the eventual wife of Do's chief of staff, under the guise that she was providing consulting services to VAS.
  • The FBI, the Orange County District Attorney's Office Bureau of Investigation, and IRS Criminal Investigation are investigating this matter.
  • Assistant United States Attorneys Nandor F.R. Kiss and Rosalind Wang of the Orange County Office, Assistant United States Attorney Tara Vavere of the Asset Forfeiture and Recovery Section, and Senior Deputy District Attorney Avery T. Harrison and Deputy District Attorney Anthony J. Schlehner of Orange County District Attorney's Office are prosecuting this case.
  • Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer stated that "Today's indictments are another critical step in ensuring accountability -- and consequences -- for those who conspired to use the County of Orange's COVID-19 funds as their personal ATMs."

Statistics:

  • Approximately $12 million in COVID-19 pandemic-related funds were obtained through the conspiracy.
  • Pham and Nguyen spent large portions of the funds on personal expenses, such as rent and bills, paying off debts owed by their other businesses, and making personal investments.
  • Pham used county money to pay the eventual wife of Do's chief of staff, approximately $?
  • The FBI, the Orange County District Attorney's Office Bureau of Investigation, and IRS Criminal Investigation are investigating this matter, with assistance from multiple federal and state agencies.

Sources:

  • US FBI
  • Orange County District Attorney's Office
  • Justice Department
  • US Attorney's Office for the Central District of California
  • IRS Criminal Investigation
  • Orange County Board of Supervisors

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