Former San Leandro City Councilman Bryan Azevedo pleads guilty in federal corruption probe

"OAKLAND Former San Leandro City Councilman Bryan Azevedo pleaded guilty Wednesday to accepting a $2,000 bribe and then lying about it to federal agents, signaling the first conviction in a sprawling East Bay political corruption scandal that has also ensnared Oakland's former mayor. Azevedo who resigned from San Leandro's City Council effective Tuesday, about a year into his second term said little during Wednesday's court hearing, except to acknowledge U.S. District Court Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers and seal the deal."

"Wearing a dark blue suit with no tie and an American flag pin on his lapel, Azevedo pleaded guilty to the exact same charges for which he was indicted last year: Conspiracy to commit wire fraud and lying to a government agency. He faces a maximum of 20 years in prison for the conspiracy charge and five years in prison for the other count"

"His plea completes a steady fall from grace for the two-term councilman, a sheet metal foreman who handily won election to the City Council in 2020 before watching his political fortunes slowly fade in recent years. He barely won re-election in November 2024 capturing the contest by fewer than 500 votes before becoming entangled in the largest political corruption scandal to hit the East Bay in decades."

Bryan Azevedo pleaded guilty to accepting a $2,000 bribe and lying to federal agents and resigned from San Leandro's City Council effective Tuesday. He admitted to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and to making false statements to a government agency. He faces statutory maximums of 20 years for the conspiracy count and five years for the false-statements count, though significant prison time is unlikely given his lack of prior criminal history and possible cooperation with prosecutors. Azevedo's plea represents the first conviction in a sprawling East Bay corruption probe that also involves allegations against former Oakland mayor Sheng Thao tied to bribes, election mailers and a no-show job in exchange for political favors.

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