Why does it often seem like there’s so little progress around homelessness? What can be done to make systems more effective? From the halls of government to the streets, I follow money and policies to examine what’s working, what’s not, and how it’s affecting people in Southern California.
Chris Wangsaporn , chief of staff to O.C. Supervisor Andrew Do , at the O.C. Board of Supervisors meeting on Dec. 19, 2023.If you're enjoying this article, you'll love our daily newsletter, The LA Report.
Each weekday, catch up on the 5 most pressing stories to start your morning in 3 minutes or less.Chris Wangsaporn, who served as Orange County Supervisor Andrew Do's chief of staff, is out, a county spokesperson confirmed Friday.LAist reached out to county spokesperson Mary Nichelson Thursday evening to ask about Wangsaporn’s status. The next morning, Nichelson responded: “Chris Wangsaporn has separated from the County. We have no further comment.” She said his departure was effective Thursday. Supervisor Do, who represents District 1, is termed out of office early next year.that his then-girlfriend, Josie Batres, was hired by a nonprofit, Mind OC, to carry out a $275,000 mental health contract funded by the county. County officials told LAist the county paid out the full contract, but none of the required work turned in to the county. Batres and Wangsaporn got married about one year into the two-year contract.The wife of an OC supervisor’s aide was hired for a $275,000 contract. The work was never turned in, county saysHow did a 22-year-old law student afford a $1 million home at the center of civil fraud allegations? Multiple people briefed on the contract told LAist Supervisor Do told the nonprofit to hire Batres to do the work. The people who spoke with LAist about Do's alleged directive did so on the condition they not be named, saying it could compromise their careers.Since last November, LAist has been reporting on millions of public funds directed by Supervisor Do to a different nonprofit, Viet America Society , where his daughter held leadership roles. LAist learned about the hiring of Batres in the course of reporting on overall questions about how contracts had been awarded and where that money had gone.A federal grand jury has been investigating VAS, according to a public court filing reviewed by LAist. The nonprofit is at the center of swirling questions about what happened to millions in federal tax dollars earmarked to feed needy seniors. The filing sheds new light on an ongoing, highly secretive criminal investigation that briefly burst into public view on Aug. 22, when FBI and IRS agents searched homes owned by Supervisor Do, his daughter Rhiannon Do and Pham. The local U.S. Attorney’s Office, which convened the grand jury according to the court filing, has declined to comment.In November 2023, LAist began investigating how millions in public taxpayer dollars were spent. In total, LAist has uncovered public records showing more than $13 million in public money that was approved to a little-known nonprofit that records state was led on and off by Rhiannon Do. Most of that money was directed to the group by Supervisor Do outside of the public’s view and never appeared on public meeting agendas. He did not publicly disclose his family ties.Top OC official helped direct millions to his daughter’s center without disclosing family connectionsaying millions in funding were unaccounted for. They warned the nonprofit that it could be forced to repay the funds.O.C. officials were demanding the refund of more than $3 million in public funds awarded by Do to VAS and another nonprofit, Hand to Hand.O.C. officials sued VAS and its key officers and associated businesses, including Rhiannon Do . The lawsuit alleges that county money was illegally used to purchase five homes and was converted into cash through ATM transactions. that federal agents were searching Rhiannon Do's home in Tustin. Later that day, Supervisor Do's home, and other properties, were also raided.We are here to investigate abuse of power, misconduct and negligence in government, business, and any venue where the public is affected.Your city council, board of supervisors, school board and more all hold public meetings that anybody can attend. These are times you can talk to your elected officials directly and hear about the policies they’re voting on that affect your community.During this critical election, we’re spending less time fundraising, but we can’t raise less of the vital funding needed to keep trusted local news strong. Donate now to return to uninterrupted coverage sooner.Civics & DemocracyDays before FBI search, OC supervisor defended his daughter’s nonprofit against fraud claims The remarks made on a Vietnamese radio broadcast are Orange County Supervisor Andrew Do’s first known public response after O.C. officials filed a lawsuit alleging millions of taxpayer dollars were misspent.Feds search homes of OC Supervisor Andrew Do, Judge Cheri Pham and their daughter Federal agents on Thursday searched the family home of O.C. Supervisor Andrew Do and his wife — O.C. Superior Court Assistant Presiding Judge Cheri Pham — as well as a home owned by their daughter Rhiannon Do.The repayment demands, detailed in Orange County letters obtained by LAist, come as officials found that the nonprofit Viet America Society failed to show that meals to seniors were handed out as required under a county contract. Supervisor Andrew Do did not respond to requests for comment.Why we villainize coyotes, and more things you need to know about themWhy homelessness has more than doubled in LA County’s once-affordable northern desert
OC Andrew Do Investigation VAS
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