3 ms·

FBI raids Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao's home, 3 other locations: source

49 points by radlad 2y ago

threatofrain 2y ago
We can't say much until there's more news... there are only rumors about the nature of the investigation. Not enough for a discussion.
- infecto 2y ago
  Definitely but given the other homes raided we can connect some of the blanks. Add in that Oakland is filled with organized crime with payoffs going towards OPD and beyond, it makes sense.
  - foobarian 2y ago
    [flagged]
  - NPC82 2y ago
    And yet those paying off the supreme court walk free.
alephnerd 2y ago
Seems to be connected to this political money laundering case [0], as the raids hit all the suspects listed. Edit: The Duong family is also connected with the Long An Green Tech Park project outside Saigon [1][2] which had been moribund for almost a decade, and most likely was unlocked due to some backdoor dealings. [0] - https://oaklandside.org/2020/09/15/accusations-of-political-money-laundering-under-investigation-in-oakland/ https://oaklandside.org/2020/09/15/accusations-of-political-... [1] - https://baolongan.vn/de-xuat-thi-diem-khu-cong-nghiep-xanh-tai-long-an-a173306.html https://baolongan.vn/de-xuat-thi-diem-khu-cong-nghiep-xanh-t... [2] - https://theinvestor.vn/us-invested-firm-prepares-700-mln-for-waste-treatment-plant-in-southern-vietnam-d3557.html https://theinvestor.vn/us-invested-firm-prepares-700-mln-for...
- creer 2y ago
  Good catch. And not a new issue then with that article from 2020.
yazzku 2y ago
Oakland is a dumpster fire. Not surprised if the Mayor turns out to be involved in money laundering schemes. Hopefully the FBI's investigation will proceed faster than the recall vote.
laurencerowe 2y ago
There seems to be a pattern of Bay Area garbage collection companies involved in corruption cases. https://www.cbsnews.com/sanfrancisco/news/2nd-recology-executive-pleads-guilty-in-san-francisco-public-works-bribery-scandal/ https://www.cbsnews.com/sanfrancisco/news/2nd-recology-execu...
- ramesh31 2y ago
  >There seems to be a pattern of garbage collection companies involved in corruption cases FTFY. Garbage business is the mafia's oldest racket in the US.
ramesh31 2y ago
>The details of the FBI's investigation remain unknown, but sources say the case involves the IRS and the US Postal Service. The two organizations on earth that you absolutely do not mess around with. Sheng's about to find out why.
- stevev 2y ago
  She wasn’t the target. She will cut a deal for cooperation or for testimony against…
- creer 2y ago
  These often tag along in the US as add-on, enhancing or easier to prove items on investigations that have little to do with them. Money was involved but not reported to the IRS: IRS. Anything at all went through the mail: USPS. It says nothing about the core issues being investigated.
  - ramesh31 2y ago
    Sure, but my whole point is that corruption charges are incredibly hard to bring outside the context of utilizing (or cheating) those two services. Smart criminals pay their taxes.
    - creer 2y ago
      Fair. Are there examples documented out there where the smart criminals did pay their taxes and we got details on how exactly they described and categorized these payments? "Misc income (bribes) $123,456" might not be the best solution.
      - ramesh31 2y ago
        >"Misc income (bribes) $123,456" might not be the best solution. You joke, but funny enough that is indeed the official stance from the IRS: https://www.irs.gov/publications/p525#en_US_2023_publink1000229557 https://www.irs.gov/publications/p525#en_US_2023_publink1000... "Illegal activities. Income from illegal activities, such as money from dealing illegal drugs, must be included in your income on Schedule 1 (Form 1040), line 8z, or on Schedule C (Form 1040) if from your self-employment activity."
deleted 2y ago
[deleted]
wnevets 2y ago
Is it just me or has the FBI has been on a roll lately. [1] [2] [1] https://www.inquirer.com/news/new-jersey/george-norcross-indictment-recordings-wire-tap-platkin-20240619.html https://www.inquirer.com/news/new-jersey/george-norcross-ind... [2] https://www.cbsnews.com/news/bob-menendez-trial-gold-bars-cash-fbi-search/ https://www.cbsnews.com/news/bob-menendez-trial-gold-bars-ca...
ssahoo 2y ago
Home of Mayor Sheng Thao on Maiden Lane in the Oakland Hills California Waste Solutions at the Embarcadero Home of California Waste Solutions' Andy Duong on View Crest Court Home of California Waste Solutions' David and Linda Duong on Skyline Blvd Andy Duong is the son of David Duong, the President and CEO of California Waste Solutions, whose house was also raided. California Waste Solutions is Oakland's garbage vendor.

49 points by radlad 2y ago

We can't say much until there's more news... there are only rumors about the nature of the investigation. Not enough for a discussion.

infecto 2y ago
Definitely but given the other homes raided we can connect some of the blanks. Add in that Oakland is filled with organized crime with payoffs going towards OPD and beyond, it makes sense.
- foobarian 2y ago
  [flagged]
- NPC82 2y ago
  And yet those paying off the supreme court walk free.

alephnerd 2y ago

Seems to be connected to this political money laundering case [0], as the raids hit all the suspects listed. Edit: The Duong family is also connected with the Long An Green Tech Park project outside Saigon [1][2] which had been moribund for almost a decade, and most likely was unlocked due to some backdoor dealings. [0] - https://oaklandside.org/2020/09/15/accusations-of-political-money-laundering-under-investigation-in-oakland/ https://oaklandside.org/2020/09/15/accusations-of-political-... [1] - https://baolongan.vn/de-xuat-thi-diem-khu-cong-nghiep-xanh-tai-long-an-a173306.html https://baolongan.vn/de-xuat-thi-diem-khu-cong-nghiep-xanh-t... [2] - https://theinvestor.vn/us-invested-firm-prepares-700-mln-for-waste-treatment-plant-in-southern-vietnam-d3557.html https://theinvestor.vn/us-invested-firm-prepares-700-mln-for...

creer 2y ago
Good catch. And not a new issue then with that article from 2020.

yazzku 2y ago

Oakland is a dumpster fire. Not surprised if the Mayor turns out to be involved in money laundering schemes. Hopefully the FBI's investigation will proceed faster than the recall vote.

laurencerowe 2y ago

There seems to be a pattern of Bay Area garbage collection companies involved in corruption cases. https://www.cbsnews.com/sanfrancisco/news/2nd-recology-executive-pleads-guilty-in-san-francisco-public-works-bribery-scandal/ https://www.cbsnews.com/sanfrancisco/news/2nd-recology-execu...

ramesh31 2y ago
>There seems to be a pattern of garbage collection companies involved in corruption cases FTFY. Garbage business is the mafia's oldest racket in the US.

ramesh31 2y ago

>The details of the FBI's investigation remain unknown, but sources say the case involves the IRS and the US Postal Service. The two organizations on earth that you absolutely do not mess around with. Sheng's about to find out why.

stevev 2y ago
She wasn’t the target. She will cut a deal for cooperation or for testimony against…
creer 2y ago
These often tag along in the US as add-on, enhancing or easier to prove items on investigations that have little to do with them. Money was involved but not reported to the IRS: IRS. Anything at all went through the mail: USPS. It says nothing about the core issues being investigated.
- ramesh31 2y ago
  Sure, but my whole point is that corruption charges are incredibly hard to bring outside the context of utilizing (or cheating) those two services. Smart criminals pay their taxes.
  - creer 2y ago
    Fair. Are there examples documented out there where the smart criminals did pay their taxes and we got details on how exactly they described and categorized these payments? "Misc income (bribes) $123,456" might not be the best solution.
    - ramesh31 2y ago
      >"Misc income (bribes) $123,456" might not be the best solution. You joke, but funny enough that is indeed the official stance from the IRS: https://www.irs.gov/publications/p525#en_US_2023_publink1000229557 https://www.irs.gov/publications/p525#en_US_2023_publink1000... "Illegal activities. Income from illegal activities, such as money from dealing illegal drugs, must be included in your income on Schedule 1 (Form 1040), line 8z, or on Schedule C (Form 1040) if from your self-employment activity."

deleted 2y ago

[deleted]

wnevets 2y ago

Is it just me or has the FBI has been on a roll lately. [1] [2] [1] https://www.inquirer.com/news/new-jersey/george-norcross-indictment-recordings-wire-tap-platkin-20240619.html https://www.inquirer.com/news/new-jersey/george-norcross-ind... [2] https://www.cbsnews.com/news/bob-menendez-trial-gold-bars-cash-fbi-search/ https://www.cbsnews.com/news/bob-menendez-trial-gold-bars-ca...

ssahoo 2y ago

Home of Mayor Sheng Thao on Maiden Lane in the Oakland Hills California Waste Solutions at the Embarcadero Home of California Waste Solutions' Andy Duong on View Crest Court Home of California Waste Solutions' David and Linda Duong on Skyline Blvd Andy Duong is the son of David Duong, the President and CEO of California Waste Solutions, whose house was also raided. California Waste Solutions is Oakland's garbage vendor.