Former Oakland CA mayor (a democrat) indicted on federal charges related to bribery

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Sheng Thao by is licensed under NBC Bay Area

OAKLAND, CA - On Friday, January 17th, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced that a federal grand jury has indicted former Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao on criminal charges related to an Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) bribery case.

According to KTVU, the announcement from the DOJ comes six months after federal agents raided Thao's home and two months after she was voted out of office. Thao's longtime boyfriend, Andre Jones, as well as David Duong and his son, Andy Duong, were also charged in the indictment. U.S. Attorney Patrick D. Robbins said that the defendants used bribes, mail fraud, wire fraud, and other illegal practices to manipulate and corruptly influence local government.

Robbins also said that the defendants knowingly entered into agreements "knowing that bribes would be offered and accepted by Thao and Jones in exchange for allowing the Duong's to exercise illegal influence over the levels of city government." Thao, Jones, and the Duongs appeared before a judge around 11.:00 a.m. on Friday.

Following the arraignment, the former mayor exited the courthouse alongside her attorney, Jeff Tsai, who addressed reporters on her behalf. He said, "The case is built on allegations from an unknown co-conspirator that we believe when the evidence is revealed will show that my client has committed no crimes. The indictment's timing as well, is curious, we think the timing has amplified the politicization of this issue, but it has not served the ends of justice, ensuring that everyone is treated fairly."

A federal judge said that Thao is free on an unsecured bond with travel limits. She must surrender her passport. The indictment states that the alleged illegal dealings began in October 2022, before the November Oakland mayoral election. Before the election, Thao allegedly made promises that would benefit the Duong family if she were elected.

Robbins said, "Examples of promises allegedly made by Thao included her agreement to purchase housing units from a company owned by the Duong family, her agreement to ensure the extension of a contract for recycling services that the City of Oakland had with one of David and Andy Duong's companies, and her agreement to use influence to help appoint a high-level city official to benefit the Duong's business interests."

Federal officials said that in exchange for Thao carrying out her commitments, the Duongs made payments to Thao and her boyfriend in various forms, including funding a $75,000 negative mailer campaign targeting her political rivals. The Duong family also made $95,000 in payments to Thao and her boyfriend disguised as wages for a no-show job for Jones. The payments were made to look as if Jones had a legitimate job with the Duongs housing company to cover up the bribery.

Once Thao was elected, she fulfilled her promise to use her influence to appoint an Oakland city official, selected by the Duongs, to protect the family's business investments, including the housing company and recycling business. That city official is not named in the indictment.

The Duong family is heavily involved in politics and fundraising for politicians in state and local government. The Duong family owns Cal Waste Solution. David Duong and his son Andy are the only members of the family to be charged. Thao has consistently said she is innocent of any crimes or wrongdoing.

In 2024, she said in a statement, "I am 1,000 percent confident that I will be vindicated. I still have the same questions. What was the probable cause to come into my home, to make this huge scene? You know, at the end of the day, the reason why I'm still making sure that we're moving with all the successes in the city of Oakland is because I know I did nothing wrong."

Thao was recalled by Oakland voters in the November 2024 election. Thao's recall, along with former District Attorney Pamela Price, were the first successful recalls in the city's history. Thao departed her mayoral seat in December 2024 after the recall election. Voters will choose the city's next mayor in an April special election.

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James

Hey this is the way it is done in the Asian countries! What's wrong?

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