Federal subpoena asked San Leandro officials for information related to Duongs, garbage contracts, and infamous Vietnam trip
Subpoena provides clues about what the FBI is looking for in San Leandro
—FOLLOW THE CLUES—Federal authorities issued a subpoena to the City of San Leandro one day after 18 FBI agents searched the home of San Leandro Councilmember Bryan Azevedo.
—The subpoena issued on Jan. 16 asked the city for documents and communications related to California Waste Solutions, representatives of Evolutionary Homes, and a “declaration of a local emergency on homelessness.”
—Documents and communications related to contracts between the city and “any waste management company” are included in the subpoena.
—David Duong and Andy Duongs of California Waste Solutions, a recycling company, were indicted for bribery on Jan. 17; along with former Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao and her partner, Andre Jones.
—San Leandro’s existing garbage contracts were due to expire in 2024. Azevedo’s connections through campaign contributions and personal ties to the Duongs had been on the radar of city officials going back to his run for mayor in 2022.
—At the time, the city laid out guidelines prohibiting communications between councilmembers and prospective bidders of the garbage contracts. Violation of the guidelines on the bidders part would result in complete exclusion from the contracting process. This document was also requested by the FBI.
—Evolutionary Homes, a concept for using shipping containers to help solve the homelessness problem, was backed by the Duongs and its founder, Oakland businessman Mario Juarez. The business appears to be a key part of the FBI’s public corruption investigation.
—It was reported here last month that Azevedo and Councilmember Victor Aguilar, Jr. advocated for city officials to study whether the Evolutionary Homes concept would work in San Leandro. Emails suggest city officials were reticent about the proposal.
—The “trade mission” to Vietnam in July 2023, that included Azevedo is also on the FBI’s radar. The subpoena asks for information about the delegation that traveled to Vietnam.
—The trip was led by the Vietnamese American Business Association, a group created by the Duongs. Port of Oakland officials, and other local electeds also traveled to Vietnam. Tales of debauchery have long followed the Vietnam trip.
Azevedo pitched Evolutionary Homes, a potential target of the FBI's probe, to San Leandro officials
—The subpoena also suggests documents and communications may have been destroyed or deleted or made on encrypted apps, such as WhatsApp, Signal, Discord, or Telegram.
—In a statement, the city wrote, “We are fully cooperating with all law enforcement authorities, including the US Attorney, and have turned over all of their requested files. No one at the City of San Leandro has been charged. All employees at the City of San Leandro are held to the highest ethical standards.”
