Jury selected in former Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao’s corruption case
on October 14, 2026
A jury was selected Tuesday in the federal trial of former Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao and three co-defendants, marking the opening day of a closely watched corruption case centered on allegations that Thao traded political favors for support during her 2022 mayoral campaign.
U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers questioned about 70 prospective jurors, with occupations ranging from software engineers to students. She asked about their jobs, family members and whether work, childcare, health issues would make it difficult for them to serve through the trial. She also asked whether they had been exposed to news coverage of the case that could affect their ability to remain impartial.
After hours of questions, 12 jurors and six alternates were sworn in.
One prospective juror, a retired woman, raised concerns about whether the current political climate would affect her ability to serve in the case. Rogers encouraged her to see jury service as an opportunity to ensure the justice system works as intended.
“I can’t control everything,” Rogers said. “But I know that, in my own space, that we have an impact and make sure that the constitutional principles that we all value are, in fact, effective.”
Another prospective juror, who sells financial products, said he knew little about the case because he doesn’t watch local news “unless it has something to do with the 49ers.”
When Rogers asked whether he watched the Golden State Valkyries, he said no.
“You should start watching,” Judge Roger replied. The courtroom broke into light laughter.
Thao, her longtime partner, Andre Jones, California Waste Solutions CEO David Duong and his son Andy Duong face conspiracy and bribery charges, along with mail fraud and wire fraud. Andy Duong is also charged with making false statements to the FBI. All four have pleaded not guilty.
On June 20, 2024, the FBI raided the home shared by Thao and Jones, the homes of David and Andy Duong, and California Waste Solutions’ office. The raids followed years of investigations into suspected illegal campaign contributions by California Waste Solutions to several Oakland City Council candidates, including Thao.
Federal prosecutors allege the Duongs supported Thao’s 2022 mayoral campaign by providing $75,000 for negative mailers targeting her opponents Loren Taylor and Ignacio De La Fuente, and promising $300,000 in payments to Jones. Those payments allegedly came through a fake job for Jones at Evolutionary Homes, a company co-founded by the Duongs and Oakland businessman Mario Juarez that tried to sell homeless shelters made from shipping containers.
In exchange, prosecutors say Thao agreed to use her position as mayor to benefit the Duongs and their businesses, including by pursuing the city’s purchase of housing units from their company, extending California Waste Solutions’ contract with Oakland and influencing appointments to high-level city positions.
Juarez is the government’s key witness. He claimed the Duongs physically assaulted him. He later met with FBI agents who were already investigating an alleged bribery scheme involving the Duongs, Thao and Jones. Juarez has pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit bribery in the same scheme. Defense attorneys have raised questions about Juarez’s credibility, pointing to his lengthy legal history and previous fraud allegations.
Prosecutor Lloyd Farnham asked some prospective jurors whether they had concerns about the credibility of cooperating witnesses who had pleaded guilty and agreed to assist the government in exchange for potential sentencing benefits. All the prospective jurors said they had no concerns.
Thao’s Attorney, Jeffrey Tsai, asked prospective jurors their views on the 2024 election in which Oakland voters resoundingly recalled Thao.
“Is there anyone here who believes, by virtue of the recall election that happened, that you could not be fair and impartial because just that idea of it would potentially influence how you would decide as a juror in this case?” Tsai asked.
None of the prospective jurors raised their hands.
Defense attorneys also asked whether jurors could set aside preconceived views about politicians and consider the evidence against each of the four defendants separately.
Opening statements will begin Wednesday and prosecutors likely will call their first witness, former Thao Chief of Staff Leigh Hanson. The trial is expected to last about six weeks.
In July, prosecutors filed 1,775 pieces of evidence that they may introduce during the trial, including financial records, text messages, photos and videos. The 54 people who might be called as witnesses include former Oakland City Administrator Jestin Johnson and Oakland City Councilmember Kevin Jenkins.
Read the indictment against Sheng Thao here.
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