FBI Raids Oakland Mayor's Home in Ongoing Corruption Investigation of California Waste Solutions and Duong Family

Oakland, California United States of America
California Waste Solutions awarded billion-dollar contract to run Oakland's collection services in 2014
David Duong, president and CEO of Cal Waste Solutions, learned recycling from parents who owned largest paper mill in South Vietnam
FBI searching for evidence of campaign finance violations and straw donor schemes involving the Duong family and several Oakland city councilmembers
Investigation focuses on public corruption and potential money laundering schemes involving Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao and the Duong family of California Waste Solutions
Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao's home raided by FBI in ongoing corruption investigation
FBI Raids Oakland Mayor's Home in Ongoing Corruption Investigation of California Waste Solutions and Duong Family

In the past few days, there have been significant developments in an ongoing FBI investigation involving Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao and the Duong family, who own California Waste Solutions. The investigation is focused on public corruption and potential money laundering schemes.

On June 21, 2024, federal agents raided Mayor Thao's home in Oakland, removing boxes and bags of evidence after a dozen agents searched the property. Her attorney, Tony Brass, stated that she is not currently a target of the investigation. However, her former chief of staff, Renia Webb, had previously shared her concerns about suspicious campaign contributions with the FBI during a meeting on February 3.

The Duong family has been in the recycling business for decades and have close ties to politicians at various levels. In 2014, Oakland City Council awarded California Waste Solutions a billion-dollar contract to run the city's collection services. However, there have been allegations of corruption surrounding their business dealings.

According to reports, federal investigators are looking into potential campaign finance violations and straw donor schemes involving the Duong family and several Oakland city councilmembers. The FBI, IRS, and U.S. Postal Service are working together on the case.

David Duong, the president and CEO of Cal Waste Solutions, learned about recycling from his parents who owned the largest paper mill in South Vietnam. Despite their troubles with allegations of corruption, the Duongs have been photographed with prominent political figures such as President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.

Mayor Thao has yet to make a public statement regarding the investigation. Her attorney, Tony Brass, has stated that she will continue to cooperate fully with federal investigators and provide any information they are seeking.


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Confidence

85%

Doubts
  • Are all members of the Duong family involved in the corruption investigation?
  • Is there enough evidence to charge Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao with a crime?
  • What specific campaign finance violations are the FBI investigating?

Sources

97%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao’s attorney insists Thao wasn’t target of FBI raids

OaklandSide Eli Wolfe Friday, 21 June 2024 21:14
  • Unique Points
    • Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao still hasn’t publicly addressed the federal agents’ raid on her home.
    • Sheng Thao has a criminal defense attorney, Tony Brass, who states she is ready to cooperate with federal investigators and has nothing to hide.
    • Brass mentioned that Thao would release a public statement next week.
  • Accuracy
    • The FBI raids involved Thao’s residence and not specifically for her as an individual.
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

95%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao is not 'target' of federal investigation, lawyer says

ABC7 News - San Francisco Bay Area Friday, 21 June 2024 17:12
  • Unique Points
    • Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao is currently under federal investigation, with her attorney stating she is not a target at this time.
    • The FBI raided Thao's home in Oakland, removing boxes and bags of evidence after a dozen agents searched the property.
    • The investigation involves public corruption, with the FBI, IRS and U.S. Postal Service working together on the case.
    • Thao's former chief of staff described an office filled with confusion and chaos centered around Thao's partner, Andre Jones, which led to her resignation.
    • The warrants for the raid were for Thao's residence, not specifically for her as an individual.
    • The federal investigation also targeted two homes related to the Duong family who own California Waste Solutions, a garbage recycling company and significant political donors.
  • Accuracy
    • Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao is currently under federal investigation.
    • The FBI raided Thao’s home in Oakland, removing boxes and bags of evidence after a dozen agents searched the property.
    • The investigation involves public corruption.
    • Thao’s former chief of staff described an office filled with confusion and chaos centered around Thao’s partner, Andre Jones.
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (85%)
    The article contains a few informal fallacies and an example of inflammatory rhetoric. It uses a straw man argument by stating that the public appearance of the FBI raid at the mayor's residence looks like an image of corruption, implying that this is what people are accusing the mayor of, when in fact, she is merely a subject under investigation. Additionally, there is inflammatory rhetoric in phrases such as 'images of corruption' and 'unheard of', which are intended to provoke strong emotions rather than present facts. Lastly, there is an example of an ad hominem attack against the mayor's character when the author quotes Nenna Joiner saying, 'We just had a shooting. And we just got a chief of police. For this (shooting), we couldn…t have our mayor come out. We couldn…t have her come out and talk about it. This is unheard of!'. The author does not present any evidence to support the claim that the mayor's personal issues are a distraction, they simply use this statement as an attack on her character.
    • . . . It suggests that the information they wanted, whether that information itself suggest criminality, or something that simply something corroborates information, was located there. Or on a device.
    • We just had a shooting. And we just got a chief of police. For this (shooting), we couldn't have our mayor come out. We couldn't have her come out and talk about it. This is unheard of!
    • But the fact that it's our mayor, and someone who is leadership . . .
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (0%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

76%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

Who are the Duongs, the family at the center of the FBI Oakland probe?

KTVU Fox2 & KICU Plus News Station Lisa Fernandez Saturday, 22 June 2024 03:37
  • Unique Points
    • The Duong family owns Cal Waste Solutions, Oakland's recycling company.
    • David Duong learned about recycling from his parents who owned the largest paper mill in South Vietnam and became the president and CEO of Cal Waste Solutions.
    • In 2014, Oakland City Council awarded California Waste Solutions a billion-dollar contract to run the city's collection services.
    • The parties agreed to a settlement in 2021 where California Waste Solutions would refund landlords over $6 million and reduce their monthly premium service rate.
    • Despite their troubles, the Duongs know politicians at every level in the country and have been photographed with President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, and other prominent political figures.
  • Accuracy
    • The FBI raided Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao’s home.
    • In 2019, Oakland sued California Waste Solutions for allegedly overcharging some landlords of multi-unit buildings and making millions of dollars of additional profit.
    • The FBI’s activities could be related to an ongoing investigation into campaign finance violations.
  • Deception (30%)
    The article contains selective reporting as it only mentions the Duong family's involvement in controversies and does not provide a balanced perspective. The author also uses emotional manipulation by implying that the Duongs are politically powerful without providing evidence to support this claim.
    • The family owns Cal Waste Solutions, Oakland’s recycling company, which also provides junk pick-up in San Jose, and an integrated waste management facility in their native Vietnam.
    • In a statement Friday sent to KTVU, the company said that the Duongs are aware of the FBI search of their company.
    • It's unclear what the federal agents were looking for exactly.
    • So, who are the Duongs?
    • California Waste Solutions faced other issues with the city of Oakland, too. In July 2019, the Oakland Public Ethics Commission launched an investigation into allegations that California Waste Solutions had been funneling illegal campaign contributions to at least five Oakland City Council candidates, including Thao.
    • Despite their troubles, the Duongs know politicians at every level in the country. Their social media accounts are a virtual who’s who of powerful politicians.
  • Fallacies (80%)
    The author makes an appeal to authority by mentioning the FBI investigation and the Oakland City Council awarding a contract to Cal Waste Solutions. The author also mentions various politicians that have been photographed with members of the Duong family, implying their political power and influence.
    • The FBI raided Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao's home on Thursday, but they also searched three other locations connected to a politically powerful family. So, who are the Duongs?
    • In 2014, the Oakland City Council awarded California Waste Solutions a billion-dollar contract to run the city’s collection services.
    • The Duongs have also taken many pictures with both California Attorney General Rob Bonta and his wife, State Assemblymember Mia Bonta.
  • Bias (80%)
    The author, Lisa Fernandez, provides a detailed account of the Duong family and their business dealings with the city of Oakland. While there is no overt bias in the article, there are several instances where the author implies that there may be improprieties or illegal activities on the part of the Duongs. For example, she mentions that Cal Waste Solutions was sued by Oakland for allegedly overcharging landlords and making millions in additional profit. She also notes that investigations were launched into allegations of illegal campaign contributions from the Duongs to various city council candidates, including Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao. The author does not make any definitive statements about the Duongs' guilt or innocence, but she does present these facts in a way that could be perceived as critical or biased against them. Additionally, there is a disproportionate number of quotes and mentions of negative actions or allegations against the Duongs compared to positive information about them.
    • California's campaign finance watchdog, the Fair Political Practices Commission, opened an investigation into Andy Duong related to laundered campaign contributions.
      • The city of Oakland sued California Waste Solutions for allegedly overcharging some landlords of multi-unit buildings and making millions of dollars of additional profit.
      • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication
      • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication

      97%

      The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
      (Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

      A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

      Oakland mayor's former chief of staff details what she shared with FBI during 2023 meeting

      ABC7 News - San Francisco Bay Area Saturday, 22 June 2024 01:16
      • Unique Points
        • Renia Webb served as chief of staff for Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao for a year-and-a-half.
        • Webb questioned the amount of money Andy Duong was funneling to the campaign.
        • Webb shared her concerns with the FBI in a meeting on February 3, 2023.
        • FBI is investigating Andy Duong and California Waste Solutions for a money laundering scheme.
        • Court documents allege that Andy Duong arranged contributions to candidates, including Sheng Thao, using straw donors.
      • Accuracy
        • Thao’s partner, Andre Jones, tried to bring his ex-wife into Thao’s swearing-in ceremony.
        • The FBI raided Sheng Thao’s home, the homes of David and Andy Duong, and California Waste Solutions’ office but have not shared the reason for their actions or what they are investigating.
      • Deception (100%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication
      • Fallacies (95%)
        The article contains an interview with the former chief of staff of Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao, Renia Webb. She describes her concerns about potential pay-to-play activities and shares these concerns with the FBI during a meeting on February 3, 2023. This is an example of an appeal to authority fallacy as Webb is testifying to the alleged corruption and wrongdoing by Mayor Thao and her partner, Andre Jones. However, since she is a credible source who has firsthand knowledge of the situation and has provided evidence (texts and emails from the FBI) to support her claims, this fallacy does not significantly impact the overall integrity of the article. Additionally, there are no other apparent fallacies or instances of inflammatory rhetoric in the article.
        • Renia Webb:
      • Bias (100%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication
      • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication
      • Author Conflicts Of Interest (0%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication