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The Legal Woes of ‘Trash King’ David Duong: A Deep Dive into His Controversies

Allegations Against Former Oakland Mayor and Business Associates

Sheng Thao, the former mayor of Oakland, California, along with three others, faced serious charges including bribery, fraud, and misuse of power for personal benefits.

On January 17, Thao, David Duong—known as the “trash king” and head of California Waste Solutions—his son Andy Duong, and Andre Jones, who is Thao’s long-time partner, were all present in court.

During this initial hearing, Sheng Thao and Andre Jones both entered not guilty pleas and were released after posting a $50,000 bail.

The indictment claims that Thao and her partner colluded to secure city contract deals for businesses owned by the Duongs in exchange for financial rewards and services.

Included in the allegations is that Thao facilitated city purchases from one of Duong’s family businesses and renewed contracts with his recycling firm.

In return, the Duongs promised $75,000 for marketing efforts aimed at undermining Thao’s political challengers and provided $300,000 to Andre Jones.

Sheng Thao, aged 38 and of Vietnamese descent, started her tenure as Oakland’s mayor in January 2023, where she held the position for nearly two years.

In June 2024, the FBI executed searches at Thao’s residence and two sites belonging to the Duong family. Subsequently, Thao was removed from her mayoral duties in November.

David Duong is a distinguished entrepreneur and the founder of California Waste Solutions (CWS), a firm that has been under scrutiny for financial contributions toward the election campaigns of Thao and other officials in Oakland.

Reports indicate that Duong’s family has deep political connections in Oakland and has faced investigations for allegedly funneling money illicitly to politicians in past electoral cycles. Their family has a significant share in the city’s waste recycling operations.

As an influential figure in the Vietnamese-American community within the San Francisco Bay Area, Duong established CWS in 1992.

His family’s history in the waste management sector dates back to their arrival from Vietnam in 1979 when they settled in San Francisco. They began with a small paper recycling company, CoGiDo Recycling, in 1983 after acquiring a warehouse in West Oakland.

Initially engaged in waste management upon setting foot in San Francisco, Duong’s family gradually gained recognition in both the local Vietnamese community and the broader waste industry.

CWS serves as Oakland’s designated recycling and waste collection service, operating daily pickups from both residential and commercial zones, and also catering to San Jose.

In Vietnam, Duong has also been in charge of waste processing activities in Ho Chi Minh City.

In 2014, CWS achieved a major milestone by surpassing Waste Management to secure a billion-dollar contract for recycling services in Oakland, although the city later split services between the two companies.

David Duong earned the moniker “trash tycoon” for securing substantial contracts in the sector.

In 2017, Oakland pursued legal action against CWS for allegedly overcharging large property owners, resulting in millions of dollars in excess profits, to which CWS responded with a countersuit. By 2021, CWS agreed to reimburse property owners over $6 million and reduce service charges.

In Vietnam, Duong established Vietnam Waste Solutions (VWS) in 2004. The Da Phuoc Waste Treatment Complex was launched in 2007, capable of processing 500 tons of waste daily for Ho Chi Minh City.

Local reports from mid-2024 hinted that the Da Phuoc facility may face closure; however, VWS was pursuing a project promoting incineration technology to produce electricity with a 3,000-ton capacity per day, valued at approximately VND10,000 billion, aimed at connecting to the national grid and aiding in waste management for the southern economic region in Long An province.

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