Federal Charges Against Former Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao in Corruption Scheme
Federal prosecutors have charged former Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao with bribery, conspiracy, and other corruption-related crimes, alleging that she offered government contracts and political influence to the prominent Duong family in exchange for campaign help and a made-up job for her boyfriend.
Details of the Alleged Scheme
Court documents reveal that Thao, 39, promised to use her office to extend contracts for the Duong family’s recycling company, California Waste Solutions, and purchase housing units from the family’s housing business. In return, the Duongs allegedly provided Thao with $75,000 for negative campaign mailers aimed at her opponents and helped secure a no-show job for her lover, Andre Jones, with a $300,000 payment.
The alleged corrupt relationship between Thao and the Duongs began during her 2022 mayoral campaign and continued after her election. David and Andy Duong, the father-son duo behind California Waste Solutions, have been at the center of the investigation, with the family’s ties to Thao raising concerns about the influence of money in Oakland’s politics.
Controversial Text Messages and FBI Raid
According to court documents, a politically involved Oakland businessman texted Andy Duong in 2022, saying, “So we may go to jail … But we are $100 million dollars richer,” in reference to the impending election victory of Thao. Andy Duong’s alleged reply was, “Money buys everything.”
In June, the FBI raided Thao’s home as part of the investigation. Thao denied any wrongdoing, claiming in a statement that the investigation was not about her.
Recall and Legal Proceedings
In November 2023, Thao became the first-ever Oakland mayor to be recalled, partly due to her handling of a city-wide crime wave. Former Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price also faced a recall for similar issues.
During her final address as mayor, Thao referred to herself as a “public servant at heart.” However, with the federal charges now in place, her future remains uncertain. Thao pleaded not guilty during a court appearance on Friday and is scheduled to return to court on February 6. If convicted on all charges, she could face up to 95 years in prison.
