Federal prosecutors have charged former Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao with gifting government contracts and political influence to a prominent Bay Area family in exchange for negative ads about her opponents and a cushy, made-up job for her lover.
Court documents accused Ms. Thao, 39, of bribery, conspiracy and other corruption-related crimes in her alleged dealings with the Duong family by promising to use her office to extend the family’s recycling company contract, buy housing units from the family’s housing company and appoint city officials chosen by the Duongs.
The filing said the Duongs agreed to pay $75,000 in mailers targeting Ms. Thao’s opponents and helped Ms. Thao’s boyfriend, Andre Jones, by paying him $300,000 for a “no-show” job at their housing company.
Prosecutors said the alleged “corrupt relationship” with father David Duong and son Andy Duong started during Ms. Thao’s successful 2022 mayoral campaign and continued into last year.
The father-son duo run California Waste Solutions, a local recycling company that serves parts of the Bay Area.
“So we may go to jail … But we are $100 million dollars richer,” an unnamed co-conspirator, described as a politically involved Oakland businessman, texted Andy Duong in 2022 when it became clear Ms. Thao was going to win the mayoral election, according to court documents.
“Money buys everything,” Andy Duong allegedly responded.
Ms. Thao’s home was raided by FBI agents in June as part of the federal investigation into her alleged corruption.
The then-mayor said days later “ “I want to be crystal clear. I have done nothing wrong. I can tell you with confidence that this investigation is not about me.”
In November, Ms. Thao became the first-ever Oakland mayor to be recalled, in part due to how she handled a 2023 crime wave in the city. Former Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price was recalled last fall over similar reasons.
Ms. Thao called herself a “public servant at heart” during her final address as mayor last month.
The former mayor pleaded not guilty Friday during an appearance in federal court. Ms. Thao is scheduled to return before a judge Feb. 6.
If convicted of all charges, she could spend up to 95 years behind bars.
• Matt Delaney can be reached at mdelaney@washingtontimes.com.