On the morning of June 20 (local time), agents of the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) searched the private home of Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao, along with two other homes owned by family members of Mr. David Duong, Chairman and CEO of California Waste Solutions (CWS - a waste transportation and treatment company in the US). Mr. David Duong is also the CEO of Vietnam Waste Treatment Company Limited (VWS).

Television footage showed about ten FBI agents carrying about 80 boxes out of Mayor Sheng Thao's home at 10 a.m.

Details of the search have not been released. An FBI spokesperson would only say: “The FBI is conducting court-authorized law enforcement activity on Maiden Lane and is unable to provide further information at this time.”

FBI agents also searched two other homes about 5km south, owned by members of the David Duong family - a politically influential family that owns CWS Company.

One of the two houses belongs to Mr. Andy Duong and the other is related to Mr. David Duong and Ms. Linda Duong. Mr. David Duong, commonly known as the “trash king” is also the President of the Vietnamese American Business Association (VABA), an organization that aims to mobilize, support and connect Vietnamese-American businessmen.

ABC7 News sources say the raids involved the IRS and the U.S. Postal Service.

CWS is under investigation for campaign contributions to Sheng Thao and other city officials, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. Sheng Thao, 38, took office as Oakland mayor in January 2023 after serving on the city council.

Sheng Thao has not been publicly charged with any crimes, but since taking office she has faced criticism from some residents still frustrated with Oakland's crime levels. Observers believe Thao will face a recall vote in November.

HAPPY CHI