The Sheng Thao trial in Oakland is the story the Bay Area political and Asian American communities have been watching: the former Oakland mayor and three co-defendants are facing a federal bribery and fraud case in US District Court in Oakland. Every claim below is an allegation made by prosecutors and reported by the outlets cited. Thao and her co-defendants have pleaded not guilty, according to AsAmNews, and are presumed innocent.
Where does the Sheng Thao trial stand?
AsAmNews reported on October 8 that the trial was scheduled to get underway the following week. ABC7 News, in an October 10 report, said the trial was scheduled to begin on Tuesday, more than two years after the FBI raided Thao's home. A sidebar headline on the AsAmNews page says a jury has been selected, but the article text itself does not give details, so we are not reporting the trial's current day here.
ABC7 reports that Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers ruled jurors may view a recording involving businessman Mario Juarez and hear several calls recorded by Andy Duong. Defense attorneys had argued the recordings could unfairly prejudice jurors against David Duong, ABC7 reports.
Who is charged, and with what?
According to AsAmNews, Thao and her partner Andre Jones each face conspiracy, mail fraud and wire fraud charges. David Duong and Andy Duong each face conspiracy, bribery, mail fraud and wire fraud charges. AsAmNews reports that each defendant faces a maximum of 95 years in prison if convicted. ABC7 describes the Duongs as executives of California Waste Solutions.
The short answer: four people are on trial. All four have pleaded not guilty, per AsAmNews. Juarez, a businessman and FBI informant, has already pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit bribery and is expected to testify, AsAmNews reports, citing KQED.
What do prosecutors allege?
AsAmNews reports the allegation that Thao made a deal with the Duongs to finance negative campaign mailers targeting her political opponents. The article does not give a dollar figure for the mailers, and neither does ABC7, so we are not citing one.
AsAmNews also reports the allegation that Jones received a $300,000 no-show job. The Duongs allegedly received promises that the city would buy housing units from Evolutionary Homes and place people handpicked by the Duongs and Juarez in city positions, per the same report.
ABC7 describes exhibits that prosecutors say support their case. Among them:
- Video from an Evolutionary Homes celebration in which prosecutors say Juarez referenced payments to Oakland officials during a toast.
- A 2019 conversation in which prosecutors allege Thao gave Andy Duong information about internal City Council discussions while California Waste Solutions faced overcharging accusations.
- A January 2024 call in which Andy Duong invited Councilmember Kevin Jenkins on a yacht outing. The judge allowed that call, ABC7 reports.
AsAmNews adds that prosecutors plan to present text messages, emails, video and taped phone calls, much of it seized in 2024 raids on the defendants' homes.
How many witnesses will testify?
Citing Oaklandside, AsAmNews reports prosecutors plan to call "some 50 plus witnesses." Those named in that report include Supervisor Nikki Fortunato Bas and council president Kevin Jenkins, and former administrators Jestin Johnson and Harold Duffey may also testify. This count comes from a single outlet's reporting of another outlet, so treat it as approximate.
What will the defense argue?
AsAmNews, citing KQED, reports the defense is expected to challenge Juarez's credibility and assert that he has a "decadeslong history of fraud." Thao's own account of the case has not been quoted in either report we reviewed, beyond the not guilty plea reported by AsAmNews. The only words attributed to her in ABC7's report come from recordings prosecutors plan to present.
Why this trial matters to the community
For Asian American readers, a case of this scale involving a prominent local official draws close attention, and fairness requires patience. A jury, not a headline, will decide what the evidence shows. 88tumble will follow the trial as it proceeds and update this story as verified reporting comes in.
