Westminster City Council
SUBJECT
Title
Continued from the August 14, 2024 Regular City Council Meeting - Demand of Payment of GoFundMe Funds to Ms. Hsin I. Lin and Propose Investigation of Vice Mayor Kimberly Ho Related to Use of Her Title in Connection with the Alleged GoFundMe Scam to Raise Funds in the E-Bike Death of Ms. Lan My Thai in the City of Westminster.
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From: Christine Cordon, City Manager
Requested by: Council Member Amy Phan West
Council Member NamQuan Nguyen
Prepared by*: Christine Cordon, City Manager
*Staff reports prepared by staff on behalf of members of the City Council do not reflect the opinions of staff and are generated in collaboration with the requesting council member(s).
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RECOMMENDED ACTION
Recommendation
Consider the demand that Vice Mayor Kimberly Ho pay Ms. Hsin I. Lin a total of $21,860.00 for funds she raised on GoFundMe and provide direction to staff to generate a letter to the District Attorney to investigate the events for alleged fraud.
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BACKGROUND
This item was requested by Councilwoman Phan West (District 1) and seconded by Council Member NamQuan Nguyen (District 4).
Ms. Hsin I. Lin is the daughter of Lan My Thai who tragically lost her life in an e-bike accident in Westminster on February 29, 2024. According to a report from Nguoi Viet News, Vice Mayor Ho created a GoFundMe account to assist Ms. Lin financially during these difficult times, and that Vice Mayor Ho was the first to make a donation in the amount of $3,000 of her own money to support Ms. Lin.
Vice Mayor Ho allegedly convinced Ms. Lin to retain Asian-American National Committee, Inc. (AANC), which Vice Mayor Ho is affiliated with, to assist with her wrongful death claim. AANC, under Tuan Nguyen, also managed the GoFundMe account. Ms. Lin was also told she would receive assistance with her temporary visa through Vice Mayor Ho’s resources.
According to Councilwoman Phan West, Ms. Lin reached out to her for assistance when she was unable to contact Vice Mayor Ho. A press conference was held by Councilwoman Phan West on June 27, 2024, providing an opportunity for Ms. Lin to address the community and identify the injustice that has been done to her and her family. Ms. Lin has indicated she has not received any funds from the GoFundMe fundraiser nor any additional assistance from Vice Mayor Ho.
At this time, Councilwoman Phan West is calling for community support to help Ms. Lin so that she can continue her education and receive the support she needs during this difficult time. She would also like to seek justice by demanding that Vice Mayor Ho pay the amount raised for Ms. Lin from the GoFundMe account. Furthermore, she is requesting that direction be provided to transmit a letter to the District Attorney’s Office to investigate the allegations for fraud.
Councilwoman Phan West alleges that “due to her involvement since Day 1, Vice Mayor Kimberly Ho has responsibilities to demand that the $21,860 from GoFundMe be released from Mr. Tuan Nguyen to Ms. Hsin, and for the safety of the city and community, [Councilwoman Phan West] also requests an official letter to the District Attorney’s Office to investigate AANC and the alleged scam and connection to Vice Mayor Ho.”
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact related to this item.
LEGAL REVIEW
The City Attorney’s Office has reviewed as to form.
CONCLUSION
According to Councilwoman Phan West, “for a better future, Councilwoman Phan West is urging the City Council to take this matter strongly and push back alleged scammers in our city and bring back the trust and safety to the community.”
ATTACHMENTS
1. Screenshots
2. Nguoi Viet News Article (Original)
3. Nguoi Viet News Article (Google Translate)
REVIEWED BY
Erin Backs, Finance Director
Christian Bettenhausen, City Attorney
Christine Cordon, City Manager