Particulars have emerged about two people on the coronary heart of an FBI political corruption investigation in Oakland, California, which noticed the raid of Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao’s house final week.
The Gateway Pundit beforehand reported that FBI brokers raided a house owned by Democrat Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao. An FBI spokesperson informed the press that brokers have been conducting “court-authorized legislation enforcement” at Thao’s property.
The main focus of the investigation is on David Duong, CEO of California Waste Options, and his son, Andy Duong. Each have deep-seated ties to Democratic politicians and companies, NBC Bay Space reported.
Their enterprise dealings and political connections are underneath intense scrutiny following proof that means they orchestrated a posh scheme to bypass marketing campaign finance legal guidelines and funnel unlawful donations to numerous Democratic candidates.
A fast have a look at Andy Duong’s Instagram web page reveals frequent posts with high-profile figures within the political world – together with President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, Governor Gavin Newsom, Legal professional Basic Rob Bonta, and Well being and Human Companies Secretary and former state Legal professional Basic Xavier Becerra. The checklist additionally contains elected leaders from different states reminiscent of Nevada Legal professional Basic Aaron Ford, in response to abc7 Information.
In accordance with an investigation by the Honest Political Practices Fee (FPPC), a state oversight physique, “Andy Duong was the true supply of at the least 93 contributions to a number of native marketing campaign committees when he created a marketing campaign contribution laundering scheme to learn his family-owned firm, California Waste Options.” The report alleges that Duong used intermediaries or straw donors as an alternative of exposing CWS because the true supply of the contributions.
abc7 Information reported:
In accordance with the FPPC, that is an ongoing investigation with proof suggesting it began round 2016 by way of 2018 and included some marketing campaign contributions that have been fraudulently hid from the general public.
The FPPC says all however one of many marketing campaign committees focused have been in jurisdictions with native contribution limits. The investigation discovered that in this time, town of Oakland prohibited marketing campaign contributions from contractors offering providers to town, requiring approval from town council.
But, paperwork present most of the focused committees have been candidates operating for metropolis council.
For instance, Sheng Thao operating for Metropolis Council in 2018 obtained $9,900 from Duong that the FPPC alleges was laundered by way of 13 completely different folks.
In accordance with the FPPC:
- Larry Reid additionally obtained $5,600 allegedly laundered by way of eight completely different entities.
- Dan Kalb obtained $4,200 allegedly laundered by way of six completely different folks or entities.
- Rebecca Kaplan obtained $3,500 allegedly laundered by way of seven folks.
- Former Councilmember Desley Brooks obtained $18,700 over two marketing campaign cycles, allegedly laundered by way of 24 folks.
- Former Councilmember Abel Guillen, who’s presently California’s Deputy Superintendent of Public Instruction, obtained $4,200 allegedly laundered by way of 12 folks.
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