FBI investigation into the City of Oakland, Mayor Thao and the Duong family expands to include the police department

OAKLAND, Calif. (KGO) — The FBI’s investigation into Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao and the Duong family is expanding. The FBI has now subpoenaed the Oakland police.

“This is significant because we appear to be conducting a large-scale corruption investigation that is currently being conducted by the grand jury at the direction of the Department of Justice,” said Professor Greg Woods of the School of Law at San Jose State University.

Professor Woods says the subpoena is not necessarily intended to uncover any wrongdoing by the Oakland Police Department, but rather to determine whether victims have filed complaints against the individuals being investigated.

“They would call the Oakland Police Department and report such an encounter, such as possible victimization,” Woods explains.

TIMELINE: FBI political corruption investigation into Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao and the Duong family

Professor Woods suspects it may also be about establishing a timeline. A subpoena allows the FBI to learn more about the nature of the calls and what, if anything, was reported. That could establish probable cause.

“To actually charge someone with a crime and take them into custody. And then continue that legal process to hold those individuals accountable,” he says.

The FBI and Oakland police did not respond to requests for comment, but the Bay Area News Group reports that a subpoena has been issued to police to turn over all internal phone books since early March, and all police reports involving the Duong family since early April.

In June, the FBI raided Mayor Thao’s home and the homes of members of the politically influential Duong family, who own California Waste Solutions, an Oakland-based recycling company. The ABC7 I-Team reports that the investigation may be partly related to a money laundering scheme for campaign contributions.

VIDEO: Report alleges ‘campaign donation laundering scheme’ involving Oakland mayor and city officials

The FBI has also subpoenaed the city of Oakland for allegedly seeking funding sources.

“It is also an investigation into the transparency of money flows through support and donations to political campaigns that impact the city of Oakland,” Woods says.

No charges have been filed, and Mayor Thao has denied any wrongdoing.

Woods says such an investigation by an FBI grand jury could take months, if not into next year.