Federal agents raided the home of Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao and other locations in the city in a high-profile operation that garnered significant media attention. The FBI conducted the early-morning raid at Thao’s house on Maiden Lane in the Lincoln Highlands neighborhood, serving warrants around 5:30 a.m. The exact nature of the operation was not immediately clear, with the FBI providing a standard response stating, “The FBI is conducting court authorized law enforcement activity on Maiden Lane. We are unable to provide additional information at this time.”
Shortly after 10 a.m., FBI agents were seen carrying boxes out of Thao’s home while news crews monitored the scene from across the street. The purpose of the raid and the contents of the seized boxes remained unknown. Along with Thao’s residence, federal agents also executed warrants at a nearby home on Viewcrest Court in Ridgemont and at the offices shared by the Vietnamese American Business Association (VABA) and California Waste Solutions on the city’s Embarcadero.
The Viewcrest Court property is associated with Andrew Duong, the son of VABA chairman David Duong, who is also the CEO of California Waste Solutions. Both VABA and California Waste Solutions have strong family ties within their leadership teams. A representative of California Waste Solutions, Teresa Huong, stated that the company was cooperating with authorities and expressed confidence that they would be cleared of any wrongdoing.
In response to the raids, Mayor Thao’s office was contacted for a statement, but Thao was notably absent from a scheduled press conference on affordable housing in San Francisco with mayors from neighboring cities. The timing of the raids coincided with a recent announcement by the Alameda County Registrar of Voters confirming enough signatures on a petition to recall Thao from office, prompting speculation about potential connections between the two events.
Supporters of the recall effort have criticized Thao for her handling of crime in Oakland, citing a perceived increase in criminal activity that has negatively impacted local businesses and led to closures. Thao has also faced criticism for the city’s failure to apply for state funding to combat organized retail theft, further fueling discontent among residents and business owners.
The unfolding situation involving the federal raids on Thao’s home and other locations in Oakland has captivated the public’s attention, raising questions about the motives behind the operation and its potential implications for the city’s political landscape. As investigations continue and more information becomes available, the fallout from this high-profile event is likely to have far-reaching consequences for all parties involved.
