FBI raids home tied to Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao (2024)

OAKLAND, Calif. - FBI agents raided a home tied to Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao on Thursday morning, although it was not immediately clear what they were looking for.

The FBI would not directly confirm what they were investigating on Maiden Lane. Thao listed the Maiden Lane address on her public campaign election forms.

"The FBI is conducting court-authorized law enforcement activity on Maiden Lane. We are unable to provide additional information at this time," the department said.

Agents were seen coming in and out of the home, wearing gloves and displaying their badges. They remained tight-lipped about their investigation but were observed carrying bags and boxes from the home.

Dark-colored SUVs were also stationed outside.

Thao was not seen at the home when agents carried out the raid Thursday morning. A person pulled up to the home but declined to speak with reporters.

At least three other locations were raided and are being investigated by the FBI, including 1211 Embarcadero, the location of Cal Waste, owned by the Duong Family.

The two other locations were also associated with the Duong family, on View Crest Court and Skyline Boulevard. The location on Skyline Boulevard also had postal inspectors present in addition to FBI officers.

At the View Crest home, a neighbor who wished to remain anonymous told KTVU he saw two people in handcuffs at the home, as FBI agents continued their investigation.

He was awoken by agents shouting "This is the FBI, we have a warrant for your arrest. Come out with your hands up and nothing in your hands," he said. "The question is, is this tied into the mayor?'

Sources tell KTVU the Duong family is heavily involved in politics and fundraising for politicians in state and local government.

The IRS also confirmed with KTVU that their criminal investigation agents are at the scene of Cal Waste on Embarcadero for law enforcement reasons.

However, authorities did not confirm if these investigations were related in any manner.

At least one neighbor said that they saw the mayor at the address on Wednesday. Another neighbor said she heard the raid start around 6 a.m., and initially thought it was officers responding to a disturbance.

Nina Medina, a retired detective with the National Latino Peace Officer’s Association, who was staying with her family next door, traveled from Southern California to meet with the new police chief, Floyd Mitchell.

"I looked out the window and saw multiple federal vehicles moving into the driveway, agents gloved up going in and out of the residence,," said Medina. "The federal government doesn’t force or obtain warrants into one’s residence without probable cause. Anytime that it rises to a federal level, you’re talking about some significant issues involving criminality."

Thao has been criticized for mismanaging the city, but she has never faced any criminal allegations. She will likely face a recall election in November.

The recall campaign against Thao released a statement about the raids, saying she should resign immediately because of the raid on the home and "overwhelming public support" for her recall.

"While the FBI raid does not prove her guilt in the ongoing investigation, we already have multiple smoking guns indicating Thao’s lack of fitness for public office," said Brenda Harbin-Forte for Oakland United to Recall Sheng Thao (OUST) in a statement. "OUST calls on the numerous individuals and organizations that endorsed Mayor Thao to speak out on these recent events. They spent millions to get Thao elected, and all of these relationships are now called into question."

The mayor's administration has not yet responded to KTVU's request for comment.

Thao was scheduled to attend a press conference in San Francisco on Thursday; however, she did not attend. Organizers of the conference said they were not notified that she would miss the event.

Councilmember Carroll Fife, who has been an ally of Thao, said she does not know the details around the FBI investigation. She said she's focused on Wednesday's Juneteenth shooting at Lake Merritt.

"I’m still reeling from the incident at the Lake and working with the administration to strengthen community safety there," said Fife.