In a shocking turn of events, the FBI conducted a raid on the home of Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao, as well as three other properties tied to a politically connected family. The focus of the investigation is the Duong family, known for their company, California Waste Solutions, which serves as the city's exclusive zero waste contractor.

On Thursday morning, FBI agents executed search warrants at the waterfront offices of California Waste Solutions, along with the homes of CEO David Duong and his son Andy. While the FBI has not disclosed the specific nature of their investigation, search warrants require probable cause to believe there is evidence of a federal crime at the targeted locations.

The Duong family has deep ties to Oakland's business and political realms, particularly with Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao. However, their involvement hasn't been without controversy. In August 2019, an investigation was launched into Andy Duong and California Waste Solutions for allegedly using the names of others to make illegal campaign donations to local campaign committees. The investigation revealed at least 93 donations totaling over $76,000, with $9,900 specifically going to Mayor Thao's 2018 campaign for City Council.

Furthermore, in 2017, California Waste Solutions faced legal trouble when the city of Oakland filed a lawsuit accusing the company of overcharging residents for recycling services. The company countersued, claiming the city had miscalculated the number of housing units they would service, resulting in financial losses. The lawsuit was eventually settled in December 2021, with California Waste Solutions agreeing to refund residents' overpayments and receiving $1.7 million from the city.

Another ongoing legal battle involves San José, where California Waste Solutions also has a contract to collect curbside recycling. In April 2023, the company sued San José, alleging that the city's failure to prevent residents from putting extra trash in their recycling bins cost them tens of millions of dollars. They also claimed discrimination, stating that the city treated them differently than non-minority waste contractors. San José has refuted the claims, arguing that they have provided support and implemented educational programs.

The Duong family's political donations have also come under scrutiny. In addition to the investigation into Andy Duong, David Duong, the president of the Vietnamese American Business Association, has made substantial contributions to state and federal campaign committees, including more than $41,000 to the National Republican Senatorial Committee and $9,100 to the Democratic Party of Virginia since January.

As the FBI investigation unfolds, many questions remain about the nature of the allegations and the potential impact on Oakland's political landscape. With the Duong family's extensive involvement in both business and political circles, their actions and connections will undoubtedly be under intense scrutiny in the coming months.