"The morning of Jan. 17, 2025, federal prosecutors filed into a windowless room at the San Francisco federal building and lined up solemnly behind the podium. They were about to announce a bombshell political corruption case. Hours earlier they had unsealed an indictment charging Oakland's newly recalled mayor Sheng Thao, her romantic partner Andre Jones, and two local recycling moguls, David and Andy Duong, with orchestrating an elaborate bribery scheme."
"Mario Juarez, a well-known Fruitvale businessman, is widely believed to be the person federal prosecutors referred to in the indictment as "Co-conspirator 1." Identified by the feds as a local businessman, an active member of the local political community, a cofounder of a housing company with the Duongs, and the figure behind negative mailers targeting Thao's opponents in the race for mayor, Juarez is the only person who ticks every box."
Federal prosecutors unsealed an indictment charging recalled Oakland mayor Sheng Thao, her romantic partner Andre Jones, and recycling executives David and Andy Duong with an elaborate bribery scheme. The indictment alleges that Co-conspirator 1 and the Duongs bribed Thao and Jones to obtain millions in city contracts. Mario Juarez, a Fruitvale businessman, matches the description of Co-conspirator 1 and is widely believed to have provided information and evidence to prosecutors. Messages included apparent admissions of fraud and profit. Juarez appears to be traveling freely while former associates face travel restrictions as they await trial.
Read at The Oaklandside
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