Sheng Thao, who was ousted as mayor of Oakland, Calif., just two months ago due to lingering frustration with crime, has been indicted on federal corruption charges, prosecutors announced Friday .
Ms. Thao is one of four people charged. The federal indictment also names Ms. Thao’s boyfriend, Andre Jones; the director of a local waste management company, David Trung Duong; and Mr. Duong’s son, Andy Hung Duong.
Patrick D. Robbins, the first assistant U.S. attorney for the Northern District of California, said Friday that Ms. Thao agreed in October 2022 to extend a city contract with the waste treatment company, California Waste Solutions, to purchase housing to the Duongs and using her influence to help them in exchange for a campaign mail effort and side payments that would benefit her and Mr. Jones.
California Waste Solutions then spent $75,000 on an attack mailer that helped Ms. Thao’s campaign in the 2022 municipal elections, prosecutors said. After Ms. Thao took office, the company paid Mr. Jones $95,000 for “no-show” work and had promised additional payments to the couple in exchange for Ms. Thao’s influence at the company. City Hall, according to the indictment.
Prosecutors said Ms. Thao took steps to help businesses owned by the Duongs and appointed a top municipal official they selected.
Ms. Thao faces six charges, including bribery, conspiracy, mail fraud and wire fraud. She and the three other defendants are expected to be arraigned at the federal courthouse in Oakland later Friday. Ms. Thao could not immediately be reached for comment.
Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode, please exit and log in to your Times account, or subscribe to the entire Times.
Thank you for your patience while we verify access.
Already subscribed? Log in.
Want all the Times? Subscribe.
