Saying he has "great sorrow" for his actions, former Orange County Supervisor Andrew Do pleaded guilty Thursday to a felony federal bribery conspiracy charge.
Do, 61, admitted in his plea agreement that in exchange for more than $550,000 in bribes, he cast votes on the Board of Supervisors beginning in 2020 that directed more than $10 million in COVID relief funds to the Viet America Society, where his daughter Rhiannon worked, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Sentencing was set for March 31.
"I have great sorrow for my actions," Do told U.S. District Judge James Selna when the defendant was asked to state the crimes in his own words.
He could face up to five years in prison, U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada said. He told reporters he anticipates his office will push for the upper end of the punishment included in the federal guidelines.
Selna told Do he has the authority to impose a stiffer sentence, which can be appealed. But Do waives all of his appeals and cannot withdraw the plea if the sentence does not exceed the five years.
Still to be sorted out is how much in restitution Do may have to make. It could be between $550,000 to $730,000 as spelled out in the plea agreement, but prosecutors could recommend the proceeds from the sale of the Tustin home his daughter bought could go toward restitution.
Do's attorney, Paul Meyer, said after the hearing, "We want to respect the legal process and will not discuss the case or facts. Andrew Do's in-court acceptance of responsibility to the judge, and his apology to his family and community, was complete and sincere."
Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer told reporters after Thursday's hearing that it was a "monumental day."
Spitzer added that "hearing (Do) saying it in his own words was significant and monumental."
Do's own account of his crimes "gave me confidence we got it right," Spitzer said.
When asked about any others who may have been involved in the scheme, Spitzer declined comment.
"Obviously, this is an ongoing investigation," Spitzer said, adding it would be unfair to discuss any probes of anyone not charged with any crimes.--->READ MORE HERE
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| Amy Beth Bennett/South Florida Sun Sentinel |
n May, a former Broward sheriff’s deputy took her chances at going to trial on charges of stealing thousands of dollars from a U.S. government loan program meant to keep businesses afloat during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Carolyn Denise Wade, 49, got lucky when Miami federal jurors failed to reach a unanimous verdict that she bilked about $21,000 from the Paycheck Protection Program, leading to a mistrial.
This past week, Wade’s luck ran out.
A new panel of Miami jurors found her guilty of a wire-fraud conspiracy and related charges — but this time, her husband, Tracy D. Wade, 51, a former BSO deputy, was tried with her and convicted of the same PPP loan crimes the second time around.
The Wades, who had worked in the agency’s detention department, are among about 20 former BSO deputies and correctional officers who have either been convicted at trial or pleaded guilty to the pandemic era’s most virulent crime: PPP loan fraud. Their arrests and convictions over the past year bring one of BSO’s worst scandals to a close.
According to trial evidence, the Wades were working as detention deputies in 2021 when they posed as sole business owners and collaborated with a Broward loan preparer to submit two fabricated PPP applications for about $21,000 each.
The Wades not only submitted fake IRS income tax forms to back up their false applications. After they received the proceeds, the couple then lied that they used the government funds for payroll so that the Small Business Administration would forgive their loans, according to prosecutors with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in South Florida. --->READ MORE HEREFollow links below to relevant/related stories and resources:
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