FBI raids home of Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao

FBI raids home of Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao

The FBI carried out a search warrant on the dwelling of Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao earlier this morning, in line with ABC7.

Company spokesperson Cameron Polan informed The Oaklandside the FBI is “conducting courtroom approved legislation enforcement exercise on Maiden Lane and View Crest Courtroom.” He additionally confirmed that the company was conducting actions at different properties in Oakland. Polan stated the company was unable to supply further info at the moment.

Property information hyperlink a house on 80 Maiden Lane to Thao. A consultant from Thao’s workplace informed The Oaklandside that every one inquiries are being referred to the FBI.

FBI brokers additionally entered a property on View Crest Courtroom that seems to belong to Andy Duong. A number of FBI brokers had been seen leaving the property at 10:40am in the present day. Duong’s household owns California Waste Options, Oakland’s curbside recycling supplier. Duong’s firm additionally serves San Jose. The Oaklandside was unable to achieve Duong.

The FBI hasn’t said what it’s looking for. Nevertheless, the Duong household is understood to have ties to Thao and different politicians in Oakland and the Bay Space. Oakland’s Public Ethics Fee launched an investigation in 2020 into allegations that the Duong household illegally laundered marketing campaign contributions to a number of members of the Oakland Metropolis Council. The fee’s enforcement chief Simon Russell informed The Oaklandside this case continues to be below investigation. Russell stated he couldn’t share something additional, citing confidentiality guidelines.

FBI brokers had been seen inside the house of Andy Duong on Thurs. June 20, 2024 whereas an analogous search was being carried out just a few miles away at Thao’s dwelling. Credit score: Darwin BondGraham

Final summer season, Thao and different officers traveled to Vietnam as a part of a commerce delegation to advertise Oakland as a buying and selling companion. That journey was partly sponsored and deliberate by the Vietnamese American Enterprise Affiliation, a gaggle led by members of the Duong household.

This can be a creating story that shall be up to date.

Eli Wolfe studies on Metropolis Corridor for The Oaklandside. He was beforehand a senior reporter for San José Highlight, the place he had a beat protecting Santa Clara County’s authorities and transportation. He additionally labored as an investigative reporter for the Pasadena-based newsroom FairWarning, the place he coated labor, client safety and transportation points. He began his journalism profession as a freelancer based mostly out of Berkeley. Eli’s tales have appeared in The Atlantic, NBCNews.com, Salon, the San Francisco Chronicle, and elsewhere. Eli graduated from UC Santa Cruz and grew up in San Francisco.

Extra by Eli Wolfe