FBI agents raid property owned by Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao
OAKLAND, Calif. (KRON) — Agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation raided property owned by Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao Thursday morning, KRON4.com has confirmed. FBI agents arrived at Mayor Thao’s property in the 100 block of Maiden Lane in Oakland at 5:30 a.m., according to sources.
A law enforcement source tells KRON4 that today’s raid is related to alleged campaign finance violations.
A witness at the scene told KRON4 that Mayor Thao’s boyfriend answered the door for the agents when they arrived.
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At approximately 10:07 a.m., several FBI agents could be seen walking out of the property carrying bags and boxes. The agents then got into their vehicles and left the scene. An FBI representative told KRON4 the location had been cleared.
Earlier, an FBI agent at the scene confirmed to KRON4 News that the address was being investigated. A San Francisco FBI spokesperson told KRON4 that the agency was conducting “court authorized law enforcement” at the property.
The FBI declined to provide additional details.
Sometime after agents departed the scene, an SUV registered to Mayor Thao was seen parked out in front of the residence.
The property is one of four Oakland locations that were raided by FBI agents, along with agents from the Internal Revenue Service and the United States Postal Inspection Service on Thursday. Three of those locations are associated with the Duong family, which runs California Waste Systems and the Vietnamese American Business Association.
The FBI confirmed to KRON4 that a similar court authorized law enforcement activity was conducted Thursday morning at a residence in the 4300 block of View Crest Court in Oakland. That location is owned by Andy Duong, part owner of California Waste Solutions, a recycling company that’s previously been investigated over campaign contributions to Thao and other officials, according to Oaklandside.
The FBI carried out a similar raid at a third location which KRON4 has confirmed as 1211 Embarcadero Way in Oakland. There are several businesses in that location, including California Waste Solutions.
That address is also home to the headquarters for the Vietnamese American Business Association (VABA). VABA co-hosted a U.S. delegation business trip to Vietnam in 2023 that Mayor Thao took part in.
The FBI confirmed to KRON4 that the fourth location raided was 12568 Skyline Boulevard. That location has also been connected to David Duong, president and CEO of California Waste Solutions and chairman of the Vietnamese American Business Association.
KRON4 reached out to California Waste Solutions and received the following statement from a staff member:
“California Waste Solutions or CWS is fully aware that federal agents have executed search warrants at a number of locations in Oakland today related to CWS. The company is fully cooperating with the government’s investigation and we’re confident that the officials, the government will conclude that we are not involved in anything unlawful or improper activity. So, everything will move on, and everything will be OK.”
Thursday’s raids come on the heels of a recall campaign against the mayor advancing to the November ballot.
KRON4 has reached out to Mayor Thao’s office for comment on this story. We have not yet heard back. The mayor was also due to appear at an event on Thursday morning at 10 a.m. She was not there.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
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