Oakland
P.A.
—
Former Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao, his longtime partner and two local businessmen were named in an indictment unsealed Friday, alleging the four conspired to funnel the city’s business to male-owned businesses in exchange for money and benefits for Thao and his partner.
Thao, Andre Jones and business owners Andy and David Duong were charged with bribery, conspiracy and mail and wire fraud. Andy Duong was also accused of lying to federal agents. All four made a first appearance on Friday.
Federal prosecutors say Thao, who was elected mayor of Oakland in 2022, agreed to have the city buy housing from one of the Duongs’ businesses and renew the city’s contract with a recycling company owned by David Duong . In exchange, David Duong and his son, Andy, promised to fund a $75,000 mailer attacking Thao’s political opponents and make $300,000 in payments for work not presented to Jones, who is described in the deed accusation as Thao’s longtime romantic partner who lived with Thao. in Oakland.
“The defendants’ alleged activities have led to a growing sense of distrust among taxpayers and elected officials,” Internal Revenue Service Special Agent Linda Nguyen said at a news conference Friday announcing the actions of the defendants. ‘charge. “As has been alleged, David and Andy Duong used bribes to increase the profitability of their business interests and to gain negative influence over the appointment of top city officials in Oakland.”
David Duong was president and CEO of a recycling company that provided residential recycling collection services to homes in Oakland and was also co-owner with Andy Duong of a housing company established in 2022 to manufacture prefabricated modular homes for people without housing.
If convicted on all counts, each faces up to 35 years in prison. Andy Duong faces up to five more years if convicted of lying to officers.
Thao’s lawyer, Jeff Tsai, did not immediately respond to messages Friday seeking comment on the indictments. Court records do not list the names of attorneys for Jones or the Duongs. A telephone message left Friday with the San Francisco office of David Duong’s recycling company, Cal Waste Solutions, was also not immediately returned.
Thao issued a statement of defiance in June after federal authorities searched her home, saying at the time that she had done nothing wrong and had no plans to resign from office .
Oakland voters ousted Thao from office in a recall election in November, just two years after she narrowly won office, becoming the first Hmong-American woman to serve as mayor of a major city American.
She was criticized almost immediately after taking office for firing popular Oakland Police Chief LeRonne Armstrong. Frustrated voters, including the local NAACP, blamed Thao for a long list of city problems related to public safety, homelessness and the city budget, and she went into the recall election weakened by the FBI raid on his home.
Longtime Democratic U.S. Rep. Barbara Lee is among those seeking to replace Thao as Oakland’s next mayor.