Federal agents searched the home of Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao on Thursday morning, along with several properties owned by men linked to a recycling company that contracts with the city.
Law enforcement sources told NBC Bay Area there were four search warrant executions in Oakland as part of a larger operation.
Agencies involved in the warrant operation included the FBI, IRS, and United States Postal Inspection Service, a source told NBC News.
The mayor's office said it was aware of reports that the FBI is at the mayor's home, but it was referring all questions to the agency.
It is still not clear what the warrants are connected to or who is the target of the investigation.
Neighbors told NBC Bay Area they were startled by the noise when they heard FBI agents at the mayor's house around 6 a.m. The neighbors said they did not see Thao, but saw someone they believe to be the mayor's boyfriend standing in the driveway.
After hours of investigation, NBC Bay Area cameras spotted FBI investigators bringing at least four boxes and two separate plastic bins out of the mayor's home.
Dan Siegel, a civil rights attorney and former legal adviser to former Oakland Mayor Jean Quann, said the following about the impact of the investigation:
"This is not evidence, it is not even an accusation that the mayor has been involved in any wrongdoing or that she is guilty of any crime. The fact that they are looking for evidence could well be that they are looking for evidence for misconduct by someone else, rather than the mayor herself."
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Many have called upon Thao to resign and said "Our Mayor has failed us."
"The City of Oakland has a cloud hanging over it today. The world watched as Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao’s home was raided by the FBI," said the Oakland NAACP in a statement. "While the public should refrain from a rush to judgment, the leadership of the NAACP and its members are calling on Mayor Sheng Thao to resign immediately and spare the city the cost of a recall. Oaklanders deserve a mayor who is not distracted, fully committed, and able to lead the city. Clearly, Mayor Thao cannot focus on the needs of the residents of Oakland while she addresses the major challenges posed by the FBI raid and investigation."
Oakland City Council did not know about the investigation
City Councilmember Carroll Fife said the council had no notice of the investigation.
"There are so many negative narratives about Oakland," Fife said. "My fear is that this will exacerbate those stories, those claims. Regardless of what is true and what is not true, it is the spectacle of the thing that makes it interesting for people. It concerns me for our ability to get the basic work done that all of our residents deserve."
The search comes at the same time Thao is ramping up to fight a recall.
Federal agents search other homes in Oakland Hills
Meanwhile, two of the other homes searched by federal agents are in the Oakland Hills and appear to have links to two men with deep ties to both city politics and city business.
NBC Bay Area on Thursday spotted officials with the United States Postal Inspection Service going in and out of a home on Skyline Boulevard. The officials did provide comment and directed any questions to the FBI.
In a statement, the FBI declined to comment on the nature of the activity, and said they can only confirm court authorized activity at the address.
Property records show the home belongs to David Duong, who is the CEO of California Waste Solutions, which is the city's contracted recycling company.
The Duong family has been tied to Thao before. Both are referenced in a 2020 city ethics complaint, which involves an investigation that is still open. The investigation centers around allegations of campaign donation violations.
About 2.5 miles from the Skyline Boulevard home, FBI agents were seen searching a house at Viewcrest Court and photographing a Mercedes in the driveway.
Property records show the home on Viewcrest Court is owned by Andy Duong, the son of David Duong.
The FBI has not told NBC Bay Area what if any connection there is between all the sites.
It is unclear if all the searches on Thursday are linked.
NBC Bay Area reached out to California Waste Solutions for comment, but did not hear back on Thursday.
