
Former Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao faces federal indictment for alleged bribery and fraud scheme, potentially facing decades in prison.
Why does it feel like we learn of new corruption every single day?
At a Glance
- Former Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao and three others indicted on federal bribery and fraud charges
- Allegations include exchanging official actions for financial and political favors
- Scheme allegedly involved city contracts, appointments, and concealment through false invoices
- If convicted, defendants could face up to 60 years in prison
Federal Indictment Unveiled
An eight-count indictment has been unsealed against former Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao, her partner Andre Jones, and businessmen David Trung Duong and Andy Hung Duong. The charges stem from an alleged bribery and fraud scheme that has sent shockwaves through Oakland’s political landscape. The U.S. Department of Justice has leveled serious accusations against the former mayor and her co-defendants, painting a picture of corruption at the highest levels of city government.
The indictment alleges that Thao, who was ousted in a recall election two years after becoming the first Hmong-American Woman Mayor of a major U.S. city, engaged in a pay-to-play system that betrayed the public trust. According to prosecutors, Thao promised to take official actions benefiting the Duongs’ business interests in exchange for personal and political favors.
The extent of the alleged corruption is significant, too. This is no small case.
Prosecutors claim that Thao agreed to city purchases and contract renewals with the Duongs’ companies in return for substantial political and financial favors. These favors reportedly included funding a $75,000 negative campaign against Thao’s opponents and providing a no-show job for Jones that paid $300,000.
“In the weeks leading up to the City of Oakland Mayoral election in November 2022 and following her election as Mayor, Thao promised to take official actions as the Mayor of Oakland to benefit David Duong and Andy Duong, in exchange for the Duongs providing various benefits to Thao and Jones,” U.S. Department of Justice said.
The indictment further details that Thao allegedly used her influence to appoint city officials selected by the Duongs and facilitated meetings with their housing company. The scheme is said to have continued even after Thao assumed office in January 2023, suggesting a brazen disregard for ethical governance.
To mask their activities, the defendants allegedly engaged in elaborate concealment efforts.
The Justice Department outlined these attempts:
“Defendants allegedly took steps to conceal their bribery scheme by, among other actions: at Thao’s direction, making the bribe payments to Jones to avoid a paper trail to Thao; misrepresenting that Jones had a legitimate job with the Duongs’ housing company to mask the bribery payments; creating false invoices for the bribe payments from the Duongs’ recycling company; and failing to disclose benefits received on California Form 700, Statement of Economic Interests,” U.S. Department of Justice said.
The gravity of these charges is reflected in the potential sentences facing the defendants. If convicted, each could face over 60 years in prison, with Andy Duong facing an additional five years for allegedly making false statements to government agents.
The indictment has cast a long shadow over Oakland’s political landscape, with U.S. Rep. Barbara Lee among those seeking to replace Thao as Oakland’s Mayor.