The former mayor of Oakland is accused of corruption
Sheng Tao, the former mayor of Oakland, California, who was elected by voters in November, has been indicted by a federal grand jury on corruption charges.
In addition to Tao, the Justice Department also charged her boyfriend, Andre Jones; Local Waste Company Head David Truong Dung; And Duong’s son Andy Hung Duong
In October 2022, Tao reportedly agreed to extend the city’s recycling service contract with California Waste Solutions, buy housing from the Duongs and use her influence to help her.
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Former Auckland mayor Sheng Tao has stood by her lawyer after being accused of corruption. (KTVU)
“Examples of promises that Tao allegedly made include an agreement to buy housing from a company owned by the Dung family, an agreement to secure the extension of the city of Oakland’s recycling contract with David and Andy Dung’s company, and to use influence to appoint a high-ranking city official who favors the Dungs’ business interests. her agreement,” said U.S. Attorney Patrick Robbins.
The Duongs made payments to Tao and Jones, including a $75,000 negative mail campaign targeting her political rivals. Fox San Francisco He reported. The Duongs also made $300,000 in payments to Tao and Jones, pretending to be wages for Jones’ invisible work, federal prosecutors said.
The payments were made to pretend Jones had a legitimate job with the Duongs’ housing company to hide the bribes, court documents state.
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Andre Jones, he is also accused in the lawsuit (KTVU)
After being elected, Thao made good on her promise to appoint an Oakland city official elected by the Duwongs to protect the family’s business investments, officials said.
“The lawsuit itself is full of allegations, but not full of facts,” Teo’s lawyer said Friday.
The indictment comes months after the FBI raided a home linked to Tao.
Former Auckland mayor Sheng Tao, who was summoned last year, faces corruption charges. (Jessica Christian/San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)
In a statement to Fox San Francisco, Andy Dung’s attorney, Winston Chan, said the allegations against his client are without merit.
“Despite the media frenzy over the past months, we have remained silent despite the media frenzy, hoping that the government will actually investigate the allegations as baseless and go beyond mere speculation and speculation,” Chan said.
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“But sadly, Andy is instead just the latest in a long line of Asian Americans who have had to pay a price for daring to stand out and be active in politics today.” “We look forward to clearing his reputation in court and before his peers.”