{"id":416941,"date":"2026-07-29T19:38:11","date_gmt":"2026-07-29T19:38:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/416941\/"},"modified":"2026-07-29T19:38:11","modified_gmt":"2026-07-29T19:38:11","slug":"ex-oakland-mayors-bribery-case-uncovers-compromising-videos-feds","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/416941\/","title":{"rendered":"Ex-Oakland mayor\u2019s bribery case uncovers \u2018compromising\u2019 videos: feds"},"content":{"rendered":"

Federal prosecutors recently released new details in their corruption and bribery<\/a> case against former Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao \u2014 including the alleged existence of embarrassing blackmail videos of Bay Area politicos.<\/p>\n

Thao, who was recalled from office<\/a> amid rising crime rates, and her boyfriend Andre Jones have been accused of accepting bribes from David Duong and his son Andy Duong of California Waste Solutions, a major Bay Area waste management company.<\/p>\n

They have all pleaded not guilty \u2014\u00a0but new details released by prosecutors have fueled rumors about who else could be ensnared in the sprawling corruption case, which involves alleged bribes, mortifying party pics, fake jobs and even a sex-fueled jaunt to Vietnam. <\/p>\n

Former Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao stands next to her lawyer Jeff Tsai outside the United States District Court. AP<\/p>\n

The new information was made public Friday in response to the defendants seeking to exclude evidence from the trial that their attorneys claim are unrelated to the charges.<\/p>\n

Potential bombshell evidence could come from Andy Duong\u2019s phone, which was seized in June 2024 and contains dozens of videos \u201cshowing various public officials dancing at clubs, drinking alcohol, or engaging in party-like behavior,\u201d prosecutors said.<\/p>\n

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Prosecutors allege that Andy Duong \u201cfilmed\/recorded city employees and officials as part of the conspiracy, with the hopes of using the recordings for potential blackmail.\u201d<\/p>\n

The feds have cited only one example of blackmail material, involving Larry Gallegos<\/a>, who was a project manager for the Economic and Workforce Development Department. The material allegedly depicts him at a karaoke bar \u201cwith scantily clad women in the background.\u201d<\/p>\n

Andy Duong exits the U.S. District Court in Oakland, Calif., on Friday, Jan. 17, 2025. San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images<\/p>\n

David Duong Instagram\/@ceodavidduong<\/p>\n

The Duongs allegedly asked Thao to appoint Gallegos to a high-ranking position in the housing department to help pave the way for the awarding of a contract to Evolutionary Homes, a business partnership between the Duongs and local businessman Mario Juarez.<\/p>\n

Juarez once texted Duong asked for a good date to [t]ake Larry Gallegos to party \u2013 he is a devoted Christian \u2013 think of his sins while he parties,\u201d per prosecutors. <\/p>\n

Gallegos is not accused of any wrongdoing, according to prosecutors, and is expected to testify that Duong took photos of him with \u201cscantily clad\u201d women at a club.<\/p>\n

Juarez, who has already pleaded guilty, will also testify that Andy Duong told him \u201che regularly took surreptitious photos and videos of politicians in compromising positions for potential use against them,\u201d the feds said.<\/p>\n

Andy Duong took photos with lots of politicians, including Xavier Becerra. Instagram\/@mrandyduong<\/p>\n

Andy Duong took photos with lots of politicians, including here Gov. Gavin Newsom. Instagram\/@mrandyduong<\/p>\n

Bonta\u2019s relationship with the Duongs has been under scrutiny. Instagram\/@mrandyduong<\/p>\n

Duong\u2019s alleged blackmail trove may also include incriminating snaps from a notorious August 2023 junket in Vietnam,<\/a> which Thao and other local pols attended. <\/p>\n

Afterwards, a local reporter began inquiring about members of the junket delegation \u201cengaging in relations with prostitutes.\u201d And authorities later discovered a video on Duong that shows him and ex-San Leandro Councilmember Bryan Azevedo \u201cdiscussing sexual interactions from the previous evening,\u201d according to filings. <\/p>\n

Azevedo has pleaded guilty and will testify in the case.<\/p>\n

The evidence tease has many in the public and on social media clamoring for more as speculation runs rampant about who else in the California political world may be caught up in the alleged blackmail attempts.<\/p>\n

State Assemblymember Ash Kalra, who has not been accused of wrongdoing, has been linked to a karaoke bar called Music Cafe, which the Duongs have been accused<\/a> of using to illegally funnel political contributions. The club was later busted for selling ketamine and sex to guests.<\/p>\n

Text messages show Kalra was invited to visit the bar by Andy Duong. Kalra\u2019s office had said the shared text messages shows he cooperated fully with state investigators.<\/p>\n

\u201cOther than a handful of text messages and a single lunch 6 years ago as referenced in the filings, the assemblymember did not have a relationship with Mr. Duong and has not returned to his establishments or interacted with him since,\u201d Kalra\u2019s office said in a statement<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Another name linked to the Duongs is California Attorney General Rob Bonta. Juarez allegedly sent a May 2024 letter to Bonta claiming there was a compromising video of him, ABC7 reported<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Bonta\u2019s ties to the Duongs have been heavily scrutinized<\/a>. Bonta\u2019s office told ABC7 that he is not concerned about that report of a compromising video, saying Juarez wrote that letter as \u201ca desperate guy at a desperate moment with walls closing in.\u201d<\/p>\n

Other potential evidence that the feds detailed on Friday <\/a>include recordings that shed light on communications between the Duongs and the ex-mayor and the creation of a fake job for Jones to obtain a lease.<\/p>\n

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