Federal authorities conducted raids on Orange County homes on Thursday, targeting properties that were allegedly purchased with public funds meant for pandemic relief programs. The investigation focused on a nonprofit organization called Viet America Society, which is accused of misusing federal funding intended for delivering meals to seniors and the disabled during the pandemic.
One of the homes raided was located on Candeda Place in Tustin, where agents were seen leaving the premises with boxes and what appeared to be laptop computers. The Tustin townhouse was purchased last year by Rhiannon Do, the daughter of county Supervisor Andrew Do, who was also the vice president of Viet America Society. The lawsuit filed by the county alleges that the organization used federal funds to buy homes instead of providing meals to those in need.
In addition to the Tustin property, authorities also targeted the Garden Grove home of Viet America Society President Peter Pham, as well as a home in Fountain Valley. The FBI confirmed the searches but declined to provide further details due to a court sealing order. The investigation also extended to a restaurant in Westminster, which had a contract with VAS to prepare meals for distribution.
The county’s lawsuit seeks to recover millions of dollars from Viet America Society, accusing the organization of using public funds for personal gain. However, Mark Rosen, an attorney for VAS, defended the organization, stating that they continued to provide food delivery services to the needy during the pandemic. Rosen claimed that while there were record-keeping issues initially, all contracts for services were honored.
Rosen criticized the lawsuit as a „smear job“ and highlighted the challenges faced by the nonprofit in documenting every meal delivered during the pandemic. He emphasized that the Vietnamese community served by VAS was wary of government involvement due to past experiences as refugees. Rosen argued that the county’s standards for record-keeping were unreasonable given the circumstances of the pandemic.
Supervisor Do was contacted for comment by NBCLA, but no response was provided. The investigation into Viet America Society’s alleged misuse of public funds for personal gain continues, with federal authorities working to uncover the extent of the organization’s actions. City News Service contributed to the report, providing updates on the ongoing investigation.