Lawsuit says police aided Little Saigon loan shark

Business owner alleges Westminster cops provided "muscle" for loan shark



Loan sharks. Corrupt cops. Threats. Intimidation. There was something shady going down in Little Saigon, and one local business owner wasn't going to take it anymore. According to a federal lawsuit filed against the Westminster police department, a loan shark used cops as enforcers to shake down a local businesswoman.

Lounge owner sues Westminster police in loan shark claim

Hanh Le says she was victimized in a loan shark operation organized by Kevin Khanh Tuan Do, the owner of a construction firm, over $170,000 he allegedly lent her to open and run a Little Saigon lounge, charging 60% annual interst. The lawsuit alleges that police officers formed a "team" to provide muscle for Do.

According to Le, multiple officers harassed and intimidated her, pulling her over on bogus traffic stops and showing up and her lounge unannounced, pushing her to pay the monthly installments.

LGBT organizations will march in Orange County Tet parade

Community members vote to include formerly barred groups in this year's celebration

Victory in Orange County! After prohibiting lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people from participating in last year's Tet parade, the Vietnamese American Federation of Southern California voted this weekend to allow LGBT organizations to march in this year's upcoming festivities.

LGBT Orgs Cleared to March in 2014 Tet Parade

On Saturday, federation members voted 51-36 to allow LGBT organizations to take part in the 2014 Tet Festival in Westminster, scheduled for February 1. The vote comes after an earlier vote, held last year, barring the organizations from the 2014 festival. The re-vote was scheduled following a meeting between federation leadership and community members last month.

Supporters are calling the decision historic: