SANTA ANA, Calif. — A prominent official from Orange County in Southern California has admitted guilt to charges involving a conspiracy to commit bribery, part of an extensive scheme that diverted COVID-19 relief funds intended for senior citizens.

Andrew Do, a former county supervisor, submitted his guilty plea in federal court in Santa Ana on Thursday, following a deal with federal prosecutors.

The 61-year-old expressed remorse for his actions in a statement he read aloud during the court proceedings, expressing his sorrow towards his family and the individuals who relied on him.

According to investigators, Do accepted over $500,000 in bribes while facilitating the allocation of COVID relief funds to Viet America Society, an organization that purported to provide meals for the elderly and disabled. However, authorities claim that the organization, which had Do’s daughter, Rhiannon Do, listed as an executive, misappropriated the majority of the funds it received, diverting them away from meal services toward real estate investments.

This case is linked to a prolonged investigation into Viet America Society, coinciding with a civil lawsuit filed by Orange County, which alleges that the organization improperly utilized federal funds. Federal authorities reported that only 15% of the more than $9 million disbursed to Viet America Society was allocated toward actual meal delivery.

Andrew Do, who arrived in the United States as a Vietnamese refugee, built a career as a prosecutor and city council member, ultimately gaining a position on the five-member board of supervisors in Orange County. His sentencing is scheduled for March 31.

Investigators have stated that Rhiannon Do is actively cooperating with the ongoing probe and will not face charges herself.