Orange County is demanding that Viet America Society (VAS), a nonprofit charity, return $2.2 million in federal funds it received during the pandemic due to insufficient documentation of its spending.
The request for reimbursement follows allegations that VAS failed to submit an audit of its expenditures and work by the specified deadline. The county letters obtained by The Epoch Times reveal that the organization was supposed to use the allocated funds to provide meals for needy seniors.
It was brought to light that VAS has ties to Supervisor Andrew Do’s daughter, Rhiannon Do, though current laws do not mandate disclosure of such connections by public officials.
The county, in letters dated July 26, instructed VAS to return nearly $2 million for payments made under a contract for fiscal year 2021–22, along with $200,000 for payments from a contract for fiscal year 2020–21. These funds were part of the federal COVID-19 relief money from President Joe Biden’s American Rescue Plan.
According to the county, VAS failed to provide accurate records or clear explanations justifying its payment requests. The county also expressed concerns about potential commingling of funds and questionable transactions in the submissions made by VAS.
Examples listed in the letters included a $20,000 donation to another group under a subcontractor agreement without proper documentation, and discrepancies in reported meal distribution figures without supporting documentation.
Despite the county’s demand for repayment, VAS stated that there was no misuse of federal funds and they do not intend to return the money. The nonprofit’s attorney, Sterling Scott Winchell, argued that the funds were earned through legitimate work.
As of now, VAS has not responded officially to the county’s request, but county officials remain hopeful that the organization can provide satisfactory answers and documentation to address the concerns raised.
Supervisor Katrina Foley mentioned the possibility of legal action if the county cannot validate the proper use of the funds based on the documents submitted by VAS. She emphasized the county’s responsibility as stewards of taxpayer dollars to ensure compliance with contract terms.
Please rewrite the following sentence: “The company’s profits have been steadily increasing over the past year.”
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