Photos, texts and videos detail alleged pay-to-play scheme in Sheng Thao trial
OAKLAND, Calif. (KGO) -- Federal prosecutors accelerated their presentation of evidence Wednesday in the bribery and corruption trial of former Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao and her co-defendants, showing jurors a stream of photos, videos, text messages, emails and financial records that they say document an alleged pay-to-play scheme.
The evidence was presented through FBI Special Agent Katherine Barclay, the lead investigator on the case, under questioning from federal prosecutor Molly Priedeman.
Prosecutors showed jurors photographs and videos taken by Andy Duong of California Waste Solutions.
According to testimony and evidence presented in court, the materials documented efforts by the Duong family to help Thao win the mayoral election and detailed the development of a deal for the city to purchase shipping container homes for unhoused residents through the Duongs' company, Evolutionary Homes.
Among the exhibits was a video in which Evolutionary Homes partner Mario Juarez toasted the company's formation and appeared to reference payments to politicians made when California Waste Solutions secured its Oakland contract.
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"The day after you won the City of Oakland contract, you were there paying everybody. Everybody was like f*****g piranhas after you, right? And I remember because I, I was there. I was, I was in your office and 50,000, 100,000 whatever it was," Juarez said in the recording played for jurors.
Juarez previously told the FBI that he personally packed $300,000 into a gym bag for an unidentified politician, evidence presented in court showed.
Using additional photos and videos recovered from Andy Duong's cellphone, prosecutors walked jurors through events over a period of months as they sought to outline the alleged scheme. One cellphone image displayed in court listed: "$75,000 cash to hit voters with mailers" "$40,000 cash for websites."
The image also referenced: "The purchase of 300 of our modular homes at $300,000 each... a 10-year extension of CWS contract... land deal at the Army base... one appointment to the Port of Oakland Commission and more."
Prosecutors also presented evidence alleging that Thao's partner, Andre Jones, was promised $300,000 if he helped advance the modular housing deal.
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Former federal prosecutor Wilson Leung said the government appears focused on quickly introducing evidence as U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rodgers works to keep the case on a six-week trial schedule.
"It's like any good movie. As a prosecutor, you want to catch the attention of the jury early, but you also want to wait until the appropriate moment to have the climax of the movie, so that it ends on a strong note," Leung said.
One photograph introduced Wednesday showed Andy Duong posing with former San Leandro City Council member Bryan Azevedo and Mario Juarez. Azevedo and Juarez have pleaded guilty to bribery-related charges and are hoping to receive reduced sentences in exchange for their cooperation and testimony against the Duongs.
The prosecution's case is expected to continue Thursday. Prosecutors also have recordings of Evolutionary Homes board meetings in which the deal involving Thao was discussed. Barclay is scheduled to face cross-examination from the four defense teams.
