Story perspectives

Sheng Thao Begins Federal Bribery Trial Over No-Show Job

By Drooid · Oct 14, 2026, 3:02 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

Former Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao begins a federal bribery trial.
Co-defendants Andre Jones and waste-management owners David and Andy Duong are charged with paying $95,000 for a no-show job.
Prosecutors will present over 1,800 items, including videos, recordings, texts and financial records.
A conviction could sentence Thao to up to 95 years and the others to up to 20 years.

History

Historical Context

In March 1978 FBI agent John F. Good launched Abscam, a sting that later secured convictions of seven members of Congress—including Senator Harrison A. Williams and Rep. Michael Myers—after they took bribes totaling over $400,000. The scandal spurred the 1979 Ethics in Government Act and tighter oversight, a legacy echoed today as Oakland’s former mayor Sheng Thao faces a federal trial over a $95,000 no-show-job scheme.

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Story summary

Former Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao begins a federal bribery trial.
Co-defendants Andre Jones and waste-management owners David and Andy Duong are charged with paying $95,000 for a no-show job.
Prosecutors will present over 1,800 items, including videos, recordings, texts and financial records.
A conviction could sentence Thao to up to 95 years and the others to up to 20 years.

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