​For release on February 5, 2016

CONTACT:
Judy Lee, Deputy District Attorney
Public Integrity Unit
(408) 792-2798     FORMER COUNTY DOCTOR CONVICTED OF MISAPPROPRIATING FUNDS MEANT FOR CANCER STUDY     A former Valley Medical Center doctor was convicted by a jury today of misappropriating more than $50,000 in federal grant money meant to reimburse the hospital for a research study of cancer patients.   Evidence presented during the trial showed that Dr. Tri Minh Do spent some of the stolen money on gifts to family members.   Do, 48, of San Jose, faces a maximum of four years in prison when he is sentenced for the felony on April 18, 2016 by the Hon. Daniel Nishigaya.   “This case was about a violation of trust,” prosecutor Judy Lee said. “It is disappointing that a hospital cannot trust its own doctor to protect precious grant money intended for patient care.”
 
The embezzlement was uncovered in 2012 when the hospital discovered a series of unexpected reimbursement checks from the American College of Radiology (ACR) in Do’s work mail, after he was fired.   A DA investigation showed that Do, who was in charge of running the breast and prostate cancer study, had deposited $51,400 in the reimbursement checks meant for the hospital into his own Wells Fargo private account. Funds, the investigation showed, were used for several mortgage payments for a family home and cash withdrawals. None of the transactions were made with hospital approval or knowledge.   # # #