Official court announcements or legal documents

Former Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao, Partner, and Duong Family Indicted in FBI Bribery Probe

Jan 17, 2025, 05:18 PM

Former Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao, along with her longtime partner Andre Jones and local businessmen David and Andy Duong, have been indicted on federal bribery and fraud charges following an extensive FBI corruption investigation. The indictments, announced by federal authorities, detail a 'pay-to-play' scheme that allegedly began before Thao's election in 2022 and continued into her tenure as mayor. The scheme involved Thao promising to benefit the Duongs' companies in exchange for financial support, including $75,000 spent on negative campaign mailers targeting her opponents and $95,000 paid to Jones for a 'no-show' job. Thao faces up to 95 years in prison if convicted on all charges. The indictments also mention an unnamed co-conspirator, believed to be Mario Juarez, who was involved in discussions about the scheme. Thao, Jones, and the Duongs have pleaded not guilty to the charges.