Former Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao Is Indicted on Federal Corruption Charges

2 weeks ago 9

U.S.|Former Oakland Mayor Is Indicted on Federal Corruption Charges

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/17/us/oakland-mayor-thao-indict.html

You have a preview view of this article while we are checking your access. When we have confirmed access, the full article content will load.

Sheng Thao, who was recalled by voters in the California city in November, said last year that she had done nothing wrong after the F.B.I. raided her home.

Sheng Thao, wearing an Oakland tree lapel pin, is photographed in a portrait under the shade of trees.

By Heather Knight and Amy Qin

Heather Knight reported from San Francisco, and Amy Qin reported from Washington.

Jan. 17, 2025Updated 12:48 p.m. ET

Sheng Thao, who was ousted as the mayor of Oakland, Calif., just two months ago amid persistent frustrations with crime, has been indicted on federal corruption charges, prosecutors announced on Friday.

Ms. Thao is among four people being charged. The federal indictment also names Ms. Thao’s boyfriend, Andre Jones; the head of a local waste company, David Trung Duong; and Mr. Duong’s son, Andy Hung Duong.

Patrick D. Robbins, the first assistant U.S. attorney for the Northern District of California, said on Friday that Ms. Thao in 2022 had agreed to extend a city contract with the waste company, California Waste Solutions, buy housing from the firm and use her influence to help the Duongs in exchange for a campaign mailer effort and $95,000 in side payments for Mr. Jones.

Ms. Thao faces six charges, including bribery, conspiracy, mail fraud and wire fraud. She and the other three defendants are scheduled to be arraigned at the federal courthouse in Oakland later on Friday. They could not be immediately reached for comment.

”The public needs to know it can trust those in charge of City Hall to work for the best interests of the people of Oakland,” Mr. Robbins said. “This public trust is broken when elected officials agree to a pay-to-play system to benefit themselves.”

The indictment came after Ms. Thao, a Democrat who was elected as Oakland’s top official in 2022, became the first mayor of a large American city to be recalled in more than a decade.