Star witness in Sheng Thao corruption trial details alleged bribery scheme

The star prosecution witness in the federal corruption trial of former Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao testified Friday about his role in an alleged scheme to funnel money to her in exchange for political favors. Mario Juarez, a long-time Oakland political operative and former City Council candidate, testified about how he allegedly managed a pay-to-play relationship between Thao, her romantic partner Andre Jones, and David and Andy Duong, a father-son duo who operate the city s recycling contractor, California Waste Solutions. Thao, Jones and the Duongs all pleaded not guilty to a rash of federal corruption and bribery charges in January. Juarez is testifying for the U.S. Department of Justice after pleading guilty to a bribery conspiracy charge of his own. In court on Friday, Juarez detailed the accusations at the heart of the prosecution s case that the Duongs allegedly agreed to pay Jones $300,000 a year for a fake job in exchange for Thao s help securing a city contract to