Former Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao goes on trial next week in federal court in downtown Oakland, more than two years after FBI raids upended city politics.
Jury selection begins Tuesday, Oct. 13, at the Ronald V. Dellums Federal Building at 1301 Clay St., with opening statements expected right after. The trial is projected to run about six weeks, ending around Thanksgiving. It is open to the public.
Who is charged and with what
Thao, her longtime partner Andre Jones, California Waste Solutions CEO David Duong and his son Andy Duong face charges of bribery, conspiracy and fraud; Andy Duong is also charged with lying to the FBI. All four have pleaded not guilty. The indictment was unsealed in January 2025, a few months after Thao was recalled.
Prosecutors allege that before the 2022 mayoral election, the Duongs agreed to pay for mailers attacking Thao's opponents and to pay Jones $300,000 through a no-show job at Evolutionary Homes, a shipping-container housing company they ran with businessman Mario Juarez. In return, prosecutors say, Thao committed the city to buying container units, agreed to help place hand-picked people in city jobs and backed extending the Duongs' recycling contract, KQED reported.
The star witness problem
Juarez, who has pleaded guilty and is cooperating with the government, is expected to be a key witness. Defense lawyers have attacked his credibility, citing roughly 33 lawsuits against him over three decades. Chief U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers warned prosecutors at a September hearing that questions about his honesty could be a major issue for their case.
On Thursday, the judge denied a defense request to force the government to produce Juarez's tax returns, Courthouse News reported. Defense attorneys also raised concerns that many in the 75-person jury pool had already formed opinions from news coverage. Eighteen people will be seated: nine jurors and nine alternates.
Familiar names on the witness list
Prosecutors have listed Alameda County Supervisor Nikki Fortunato Bas, Councilmember Kevin Jenkins and former City Administrator Jestin Johnson as potential witnesses. Former San Leandro Councilmember Bryan Azevedo, who pleaded guilty in a related case in February, is expected to testify for the government.
Being listed as a witness does not mean a person is accused of wrongdoing. The Oaklandside notes that seats may fill quickly on major trial days, so anyone planning to attend should arrive early.