Former Oakland, California, Mayor Sheng Thao, who was impeached by voters in November, was indicted by a federal grand jury on corruption charges.
In addition to Thao, the Justice Department also charged her boyfriend, Andre Jones; head of a local waste company, David Trung Duong; and Duong’s son, Andy Hung Duong.
In October 2022, Thao reportedly agreed to expand the city recycling services contract with California Waste Solutions, buy housing from the Duongs and use your influence to help them.
Former Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao is standing by her lawyer after being accused of corruption. (KTVU)
“Examples of the promises that Thao allegedly made included her agreement to purchase housing units from a company owned by the Duong family, her agreement to secure an 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 Duongs’ business interests,” said U.S. Attorney Patrick Robbins.
The Duongs paid Thao and Jones, including financing a $75,000 negative campaign targeting her political rivals, Fox San Francisco reported. The Duongs also made $300,000 in payments to Thao and Jones disguised as wages for Jones’ no-show work, federal prosecutors said.
The payments were made to make it look like Jones had a legitimate job at the Duongs’ housing company to cover up the bribes, according to court documents.
Andre Jones, who is also charged in the indictment (KTVU)
Once elected, Thao made good on her promise to use her influence to appoint an Oakland city official, handpicked by the Duongs, to protect the family’s business investments, authorities said.
“The indictment itself is full of allegations, but not full of evidence,” Thao’s lawyer said Friday.
The accusations followed months after The FBI raided home associated with Thao.
Former Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao, who was impeached last year, faces corruption charges. (Jessica Christian/San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)
In a statement to Fox San Francisco, Winston Chan, Andy Duong’s lawyer, said the allegations against his client are without merit.
“We have remained silent despite the media frenzy over the past months in the hope that the government will properly see through an objective investigation that the allegations are baseless and fueled only by gossip and conjecture coupled with fabrications and delusions by those who lack basic credibility,” Chan said.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
“But unfortunately, Andy is instead today the latest in a long line of Asian Americans who have been unfairly singled out and made to pay the price for daring to be active in the political sphere,” he added. “We look forward to clearing our good name before the court and a jury of his peers.”
