Opening statements began Wednesday morning, Oct. 14, in the federal corruption trial of former Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao at the federal courthouse in downtown Oakland. Thao is on trial alongside her longtime partner, Andre Jones, and two executives of the city's curbside recycling contractor, California Waste Solutions: CEO David Duong and his son, Andy Duong. All four have pleaded not guilty.
"This is a case about a public official who put her power up for sale," prosecutors told jurors, according to NBC Bay Area. Assistant U.S. Attorney Abraham Fine laid out the government's case for about an hour before defense lawyers began their own openings and immediately disputed that account.
Who is on the jury
Seven women and five men were seated as jurors, plus six alternates, after a full day of questioning on Tuesday by U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers and lawyers for both sides, CBS San Francisco reported. They were chosen from a pool of roughly 70 to 80 people summoned from around the region. The Oaklandside reported that the 12 jurors include a security guard, a person who works with children with autism, someone who does environmental modeling and someone who works on Muni vehicles.
The trial is expected to last about six weeks. The Oaklandside reported that the government was likely to call its first witness, Thao's former chief of staff Leigh Hanson, after opening statements.
What prosecutors allege
Prosecutors say that shortly before the November 2022 election that made Thao mayor, she agreed with the Duongs to use her future office to help their business interests, including extending the city's recycling contracts with California Waste Solutions. According to The Oaklandside, the government alleges the Duongs spent $75,000 on negative campaign mailers aimed at Thao's rivals and paid Jones $95,000 for a "no-show" job.
In exchange, prosecutors claim, Thao promised the recycling contract extensions, the appointment of city department heads favorable to the Duongs, and the purchase of tiny-home shelters from Evolutionary Homes, a company tied to the family, without standard competitive bidding. CBS reported that the indictment also accuses the group of having sponsors linked to the Vietnamese American Business Association, which David Duong founded, cover travel and perks for Jones and city workers.
All four defendants are charged with conspiracy to commit bribery, honest services fraud, mail and wire fraud, and accepting a bribe. Andy Duong is also charged with lying to the FBI. If convicted on all counts, the defendants face up to 35 years in prison, CBS reported.
The defense and the key witness
The government's key informant is Mario Juarez, a former business partner of the Duongs in the housing company, who has pleaded guilty in the case, as has former San Leandro City Councilmember Bryan Azevedo. Defense lawyers have signaled they will attack Juarez's credibility by pointing to his history with the legal system and past allegations that he defrauded business partners.
During jury selection, David Duong's attorney Ed Swanson urged jurors to judge each defendant separately. "It's like there are four trials happening here at the same time," he said, as quoted by The Oaklandside. NBC Bay Area reported that about 1,800 exhibits have been submitted, including recorded meetings. We covered what is in that evidence in our earlier look at the trial exhibits.
How we got here
FBI agents raided Thao's home and properties linked to the Duong family in June 2024. Oakland voters recalled Thao that November, and the federal indictment was announced in January 2025. For background on the jury process, see our preview of jury selection.