The FBI carried out a search warrant at the home of Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao earlier this morning, according to ABC7.
Agency spokesperson Cameron Polan told The Oaklandside the FBI is “conducting court authorized law enforcement activity on Maiden Lane and View Crest Court.” Polan said the agency was unable to provide additional information at this time.
Property records link a home on 80 Maiden Lane to Thao. A representative from Thao’s office told The Oaklandside that all inquiries are being referred to the FBI.
Here’s the FBI leaving Oakland mayor Sheng Thao’s home after executing a search warrant. Agents were carrying multiple large cases that appear to be containing some sort of evidence. pic.twitter.com/a0EjhfDnQp
— Darwin BondGraham (@DarwinBondGraha) June 20, 2024
FBI agents also entered a property on View Crest Court that appears to belong to Andy Duong. Multiple FBI agents were seen leaving the property at 10:40am today. Duong’s family owns California Waste Solutions, Oakland’s curbside recycling provider. Duong’s company also serves San Jose. The Oaklandside was unable to reach Duong.
The FBI hasn’t stated what it’s searching for. However, the Duong family is known to have ties to Thao and other politicians in Oakland and the Bay Area. Oakland’s Public Ethics Commission launched an investigation in 2020 into allegations that the Duong family illegally laundered campaign contributions to multiple members of the Oakland City Council. The commission’s enforcement chief Simon Russell told The Oaklandside this case is still under investigation. Russell said he couldn’t share anything further, citing confidentiality rules.
Last summer, Thao and other officials traveled to Vietnam as part of a trade delegation to promote Oakland as a trading partner. That trip was partly sponsored and planned by the Vietnamese American Business Association, a group led by members of the Duong family.
This is a developing story that will be updated.
