Former Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao's corruption trial exhibits reveal alleged violence, money conflict
OAKLAND, Calif. (KGO) -- Newly released court exhibits in the federal bribery and corruption trial of former Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao and three co-defendants offered jurors a look at the early stages of the alleged pay-to-play scheme as testimony continued Monday in federal court.
The FBI's lead investigator spent a third day on the witness stand under cross-examination from multiple defense teams, which questioned her handling of financial and phone records gathered during the investigation.
Among the exhibits shown in court was video recorded during an August 2023 trade mission flight to Vietnam.
The trip was largely funded by California Waste Solutions founder David Duong.
The video shows Duong, Thao, Thao's partner Andre Jones and Andy Duong together aboard the flight.
In the recording, Andy Duong says, "Let me see that jersey. Representing Oakland, Thao. Woo, 51," to which Thao replies, "51st mayor."
The four individuals featured in the video are now defendants in the federal bribery and corruption trial. Legal analyst and former federal prosecutor Wilson Leung said the video could carry significance beyond the details of the evidence itself.
"Picture's worth 1000 words, a video is worth 10 times that," Leung said.
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Asked about the potential impact of the footage showing all four defendants together, Leung said prosecutors must be careful about how they use such evidence.
"I think as a prosecutor, you shouldn't... you aren't supposed to argue that something looks bad, so therefore you should convict. But at the same time, I think the visuals help with the moral imperative, with the righteousness of the case," Leung said.
Prosecutors have alleged a pay-to-play scheme involving the defendants.
According to testimony and evidence presented in court, the matter first came to the attention of authorities following a confrontation recorded by Andy Duong involving his father, David Duong, and business partner Mario Juarez.
In the recording, Juarez repeatedly demanded money he said he was owed.
"I want my money," Juarez said.
"I don't know what youre talking about," David Duong responded.
"The money that you owe me," Juarez replied.
"We want our money, we want our money," David Duong said.
"We want our $800,000," he later added.
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Court testimony indicated Juarez had invested more than $80,000 of his own money to help launch the Evolutionary Homes project.
By that point, according to the testimony, the venture had been unable to secure cities willing to purchase the converted containers for housing homeless people.
The confrontation escalated.
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"Give it up. Don't play with me if you want- You don't want trouble get out," David Duong said.
"David, don't play with me. I'm asking you to play with me because I don't f**k around," Juarez responded.
Jurors also saw video of the aftermath of the confrontation, an ambulance on the scene. Juarez said he had been beaten by several men called by the Duongs.
The trial is expected to shift focus later this week when Juarez is scheduled to testify.
