Orange County Supervisor Vicente Sarmiento is calling for an “independent third-party forensic audit” of all contracts “directed or influenced” by former Supervisor Andrew Do. The Board of Supervisors is set to vote on the item at Tuesday’s meeting.
Sarmiento said the audit would show if Do’s actions were an isolated problem or a systemic issue at county government.
Do resigned from his position last month, shortly after federal prosecutors said the longtime elected official had agreed to plead guilty in a conspiracy to steal millions of dollars meant to feed needy seniors. Since last November, LAist has uncovered how Do directed county contracts and millions of taxpayer dollars to a nonprofit, Viet America Society (VAS), linked to his daughter, Rhiannon Do . The money was meant to feed seniors during the pandemic and to build a Vietnam War memorial. Federal prosecutors say just 15% of the money earmarked for meals was actually used for that purpose.
What will the audit do
Through the external audit, Sarmiento wants an outside firm to investigate all aspects of county contracts, including how vendors were selected, if bidding processes were competitive, and if vendors were evaluated. He also wants the firm to look into the contract management process to ensure vendors were complying with county processes, as well as checks and balances.