A landmark corruption trial against former Oakland mayor Sheng Thao, her romantic partner Andre Jones, and father-son executives David and Andy Duong began as lawyers delivered opening statements in Oakland federal court on Wednesday.
Over the coming weeks, jurors will hear evidence and testimony of an alleged pay-to-play scheme that ran between 2022 and 2024, as Thao competed in a razor-thin mayoral race and the Duongs sought lucrative government deals.
Prosecutors say Thao agreed to use her mayoral powers to help extend Oakland’s contract with the Duong’s recycling firm, to appoint senior officials selected by the Duongs and to steer new tax dollars toward the family’s fledgling modular housing company…