An FBI raid has uncovered a posh internet of alleged illicit actions involving high-ranking authorities officers and a infamous native enterprise in Oakland, California.
Andy Duong, a key member of the Duong household and the self-proclaimed proprietor of the now-defunct Music Cafe, is accused of utilizing the cafe as a entrance for a intercourse trafficking and drug operation. This institution, which additionally functioned as a karaoke lounge, was linked by state authorities to drug dealing, pimping, and human trafficking earlier than its closure in early 2019, the Mercury News reported.
The latest FBI operations on June 20 encompassed searches at a number of places, together with the residences of Andy Duong, his father David Duong, Mayor Thao, and the workplaces of CWS. These raids have delivered to gentle alleged monetary dealings and contributions made to varied political campaigns within the Oakland and South Bay areas.
The Gateway Pundit beforehand reported that FBI brokers raided a house owned by Democrat Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao. An FBI spokesperson advised the press that brokers had been conducting “court-authorized legislation enforcement” at Thao’s property.
The main target 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 Area 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 varied Democratic candidates.
A fast have a look at Andy Duong’s Instagram page reveals frequent posts with high-profile figures within the political world – together with President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, Governor Gavin Newsom, Lawyer Common Rob Bonta, and Well being and Human Companies Secretary and former state Lawyer Common Xavier Becerra. The checklist additionally consists of elected leaders from different states akin to Nevada Lawyer Common Aaron Ford, in keeping with abc7 News.
Paperwork and data filed by the Honest Political Practices Fee (FPPC) reveal that Andy Duong utilized “straw donors” to masks contributions made to political candidates, circumventing marketing campaign finance legal guidelines.
The Mercury News reported:
A person alleged to be a “straw donor” on behalf of the Duong household was arrested on suspicion of narcotics gross sales after a raid on the cafe.
Charlie Ngo, 35, the alleged “straw donor,” was amongst individuals who both managed, owned or had been affiliated with the cafe who gave roughly $18,000, largely to Oakland Metropolis Council candidates, between 2016 and 2018. All of them allegedly gave cash on behalf of Andy Duong, who was accused of getting “money in a drawer in his CWS workplace” used to offer to an individual tasked with lining up straw donors, data filed by the Honest Political Practices Fee mentioned. An investigation is ongoing.
Since 2019, Andy and David Duong have been underneath investigation by metropolis ethics investigators for allegedly circumventing marketing campaign finance limits through the use of a number of people and companies to funnel cash to candidates.
In a possible trigger submitting associated to the straw donor investigation, Angela J. Brereton, chief of enforcement for the FPPC, wrote that Andy Duong “is affiliated with a number of companies together with … the previous Sancha Bar/Music Cafe.”
Investigators with Oakland’s Public Ethics Fee wrote in a separate submitting that it’s “in possession of personal messages wherein Andy Duong holds himself out because the proprietor of the Music Cafe a/ok/a Sancha Bar.”
Brokers with the Alcoholic Beverage Management used money to buy ketamine and ecstasy from staff on the Music Cafe and karaoke lounge throughout a 2018 undercover operation, earlier than raiding the place in Oct. 2018 and confiscating money and medicines. (Alcoholic Beverage Management data)
Charlie Ngo, an alleged “straw donor” on behalf of the Duong household, made giant deposits simply earlier than or after writing his checks for marketing campaign contributions. Regardless of his checking account displaying inadequate funds, he made vital donations to a number of candidates.
Based on the FPPC’s submitting, Ngo didn’t find the money for in his checking account to make the contributions he made. For instance, he gave $700 to Associates of Desley Brooks regardless that he solely had $49.58 in his checking account; $700 to re-elect Oakland Councilman Larry Reid in 2016 regardless of having solely $2.14 to his identify and donated $800 once more to Brooks, the previous Oakland councilwoman in 2018 regardless of having $5.32.
Every time, “he made a big deposit simply earlier than or after writing his test,” metropolis investigators mentioned in courtroom data. He’s additionally listed in marketing campaign paperwork as giving $700 to Oakland Councilmember Rebecca Kaplan in 2016, $700 to Oakland council candidate Viola Gonzales in 2016, $600 to San Jose Councilmember Tam Nguyen in 2017, and $250 to the marketing campaign of Milpitas Councilmember Anthony Phan in 2016.
In all, Mayor Thao, then a councilmember, obtained $2,400 from individuals related to the cafe, data present.
One of many cafe’s homeowners admitted he gave $5,000 to then-Oakland Councilmember Lynette Gibson McElhaney’s authorized protection fund and $800 to then-Oakland Councilmember Abel Guillen. These elected officers haven’t been accused of violating marketing campaign finance legal guidelines.
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