For months, federal prosecutors have been vague about how they plan to argue their case that Mayor Sheng Thao was involved in a criminal bribery conspiracy. Now, they’ve laid some of their cards on the table.
On Friday, prosecutors published several documents describing evidence they hope to introduce when the case goes to trial in October. The documents include references to bombshell allegations, including blackmail videos, massage parlor sex, and fake jobs.
The government has accused Thao and her boyfriend Andre Jones of accepting bribes from David Duong and his son Andy Duong of California Waste Solutions in exchange for political favors. Thao also allegedly agreed to use her powers as mayor to help award a contract to Evolutionary Homes, a company created by the Duongs and local businessperson Mario Juarez…