‘She better start acting right': Newly released recordings reveal more about Oakland corruption case

It was Jan. 19, 2024, and Andy Duong wanted Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao to pull the trigger on buying several new modular housing units for the homeless from a company that he and his father had founded - but she was facing pressure from a recall effort that had begun just days earlier.

Duong called an Oakland City Council member and implied that he had the power to control the mayor's political fate.

If Thao wanted to "continue for another term," Duong told the council member, she "better start acting right."

The call transcript, disclosed in court filings this week, offers a glimpse into how prosecutors say Duong used his family's political influence as leverage over Thao and other East Bay officials.

The recording is expected to be presented in the October federal corruption trial of Thao, her longtime partner Andre Jones, Andy Duong and his father David Duong, whose family owns California Waste Solutions, Oakland's curbside recycling contractor.

Prosecutors allege Thao and Jones agreed to help steer city business to the Duong's housing company, Evolutionary Homes, in exchange for the Duongs paying for attack mailers against Thao's 2022 mayoral opponent and paying $95,000 to Jones through a no-show job.

The phone call shows the Duongs' support for Thao did not end with the 2022 election, but continued even as she fought her recall - though it appeared to always have been conditioned on her support for their housing company, according to court records. The call also reveals how the Duongs cultivated close relationships at several levels of Oakland's government, including the City Council. 

Lawyers for Andy Duong argue that portions of the phone call - including his mention of his yacht and potential influence in the campaign to recall former District Attorney Pamela Price - should not be admissible in the case. Both Thao and Price were ultimately recalled in 2024.

But prosecutors argue the recording shows how Duong tried to curry favor with elected officials and provide them with benefits, including support for their policies and invitations to parties on the yacht .

The council member on the call - who Duong refers to repeatedly as "bro" - is unnamed in the court filings. But it appears to be President Kevin Jenkins, who is set to testify alongside nearly 70 other potential witnesses, from East Bay politicos to FBI agents. Former Council Member and current Alameda County Supervisor Nikki Fortunato Bas is also expected to testify, and is mentioned by the two others on the call in the third-person.

Jenkins and Andy Duong's relationship goes back to at least July 2023, when Andy posted a photo to Instagram showing the two dining together at Lake Chalet Seafood Bar and Grill on Lake Merritt. 

It's unclear who took the recording or how it ended up in the hands of prosecutors.

The transcript begins with the council member picking up the phone. "Andy, what's up brother?"

"More bitches, more bitches, brother," Duong said.

"More bitches, bring 'em all here," the council member responded.

Jenkins on Friday said the greeting was a reference to a 2012 song by V-Nasty and Kreayshawn. He declined to comment further.

Duong then invited the council member on a cruise over the weekend, but the council member said he could not attend.

"If you can roll then we can party up up (sic) in the yacht," Duong said. "I'll keep you posted on another one … a private one for us only."

"OK for sure," the council member replied.

Conversation later turned to Evolutionary Homes and the Duongs' potential contract with Oakland. He told the council member that he'd pushed the mayor to authorize the deal.

"I call Sheng. I say, 'Aye, you got to get your s- together. Like, what the hell you doing?'" Duong recounted to the council member. "'If you really want to continue for another term, then you better start acting right."

Duong then recounted that after he spoke with her, Thao called then-City Administrator Jestin Johnson, who then organized a tour of Evolutionary Homes, as the Duongs had encouraged. He encouraged the council member to tour the units, too.

"This is a win-win," Duong explained to the council member. "This will help with, you know, getting people off the street and … pretty much save their next election and the recall."

Then the Oakland council member asked Duong for help with a policy he was writing to make it easier to clear RV encampments around the city.

"A lot of activists are gonna come. But what we need is like the business owners saying … this is killing our business with these RVs in front," the council member said, before Duong discussed how RVs are "all over Oakland."

"It is killing our business big time," Duong said, according to the transcript. "They're just parking … anywhere." 

"Just let me know whenever you need help, bro," Duong went on. "And then whenever you get a chance, just stop by and take a tour of the units at the office."

Duong's lawyer did not immediately respond to a request for comment. 

Thao, Jones, David and Andy Duong are all charged with conspiracy to commit bribery, bribery concerning programs receiving federal funds, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, mail fraud and two counts of wire fraud. Prosecutors also charged Andy Duong with making false statements to the government. All the defendants have pleaded not guilty.

Jury selection is set for October 13.

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This article originally published at 'She better start acting right': Newly released recordings reveal more about Oakland corruption case .