"We first learned the name of San Leandro City Councilmember Bryan Azevedo last summer, when Azevedo received official notice that he was under investigation by federal agents. Azevedo, like former Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao, was among a group of East Bay elected officials who went on a sponsored, probably fairly luxury trip to Vietnam in August 2023, paid for by the Vietnamese American Business Association."
"Azevedo was then charged by the feds in October for taking bribes, and for lying to FBI agents about a $2,000 envelope of cash. It was immediately clear that Azevedo was looking to cut a deal with the feds, and a US attorney Abraham Fine said as much to a judge in November, saying, that prosecutors were, "very close to reaching a resolution for this case.""
Bryan Azevedo filed a guilty plea in federal court and is now a potential witness against former Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao. Federal agents investigated Azevedo after a sponsored trip to Vietnam in August 2023 paid by the Vietnamese American Business Association, led by David Duong. David and Andy Duong were indicted in January 2025 on bribery and corruption charges alongside Thao. Azevedo was charged in October with taking bribes and lying to FBI agents about a $2,000 envelope of cash. A US attorney indicated prosecutors were close to a resolution. Azevedo faces up to 25 years but is unlikely to serve much time if he cooperates. Thao, Andre Jones, and the Duongs have pleaded not guilty and face multiple charges. Thao allegedly promised contracts, including deals for the Duongs' waste-management company and their tiny-home startup Evolutionary Homes.
Read at sfist.com
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