Trash company boss filmed compromising videos of California politicians: feds

Federal prosecutors recently released new details in their corruption and bribery case against former Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao — including the alleged existence of embarrassing blackmail videos of Bay Area politicos.Thao, who was recalled from office amid rising crime rates, and her boyfriend Andre Jones have been accused of accepting bribes from David Duong and his son Andy Duong of California Waste Solutions, a major Bay Area waste management company.They have all pleaded not guilty — but new details released by prosecutors have fueled rumors about who else could be ensnared in the sprawling corruption case, which involves alleged bribes, mortifying party pics, fake jobs and even a sex-fueled jaunt to Vietnam.The new information was made public Friday in response to the defendants seeking to exclude evidence from the trial that their attorneys claim are unrelated to the charges.Potential bombshell evidence could come from Andy Duong’s phone, which was seized in June 2024 and contains dozens of videos “showing various public officials dancing at clubs, drinking alcohol, or engaging in party-like behavior,” prosecutors said.Prosecutors allege that Andy Duong “filmed/recorded city employees and officials as part of the conspiracy, with the hopes of using the recordings for potential blackmail.”The feds have cited only one example of blackmail material, involving Larry Gallegos, who was a project manager for the Economic and Workforce Development Department.

The material allegedly depicts him at a karaoke bar “with scantily clad women in the background.”The Duongs allegedly asked Thao to appoint Gallegos to a high-ranking position in the housing department to help pave the way for the awarding of a contract to Evolutionary Homes, a business partnership between the Duongs and local businessman Mario Juarez.Juarez once texted Duong asked for a good date to [t]ake Larry Gallegos to party – he is a devoted Christian – think of his sins while he pa...