"San Leandro City Councilmember Bryan Azevedo was charged by the FBI last month with taking bribes, and lying to the FBI about a $2,000 envelope of cash. None of these charges technically overlap with the charges against Thao, but the charges are for the same kind of bribes that Thao allegedly took, and it's alleged that Azevedo took his bribes from the same two high-rolling Oakland-based businessmen."
"But hours later, the Chronicle busted an even bigger scoop. That paper reports on some signs that federal prosecutors may have flipped Azevedo, and he could theoretically testify against the other parties charged with crimes here. The Chronicle only has a few shreds of evidence, but boy do they seem convincing that Azevedo might soon cut a deal with the feds."
An FBI corruption probe that began at Oakland City Hall has extended to San Leandro after Councilmember Bryan Azevedo was charged with taking bribes and lying about a $2,000 envelope of cash. Azevedo pleaded not guilty and was released on $25,000 bond. Prosecutors allege the bribes mirror those in the case against Mayor Sheng Thao and involve the same two Oakland businessmen, although the charged counts do not technically overlap. Federal prosecutors disclosed the prospect of a cooperation deal in a recent court filing and noted overlapping events and entities between Azevedo's case and Thao's case, suggesting possible testimony against other defendants.
Read at sfist.com
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