Two Men Arrested in Alleged Plot to Silence Witness in Sheng Thao Corruption Case

Published: April 14, 2025

By: R. House

In a dramatic escalation of the corruption scandal surrounding former Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao, two men were arrested in December 2024 for allegedly attempting to kill a key witness in the ongoing federal investigation. The arrests, reported by the San Francisco Chronicle, have added a chilling layer of intrigue to a case already steeped in allegations of bribery and political misconduct. While the suspects were later released without charges, the incident has raised questions about the lengths to which those involved may go to protect their interests.

The target of the alleged hit was Mario Juarez, a businessman and political operative identified in court documents as "Co-Conspirator 1" in the federal indictment against Thao and her associates. On June 9, 2024, just days before the FBI raided the homes of Thao and her alleged co-conspirators, Juarez was reportedly ambushed outside his home in Oakland’s Fruitvale neighborhood. According to reports, two men opened fire on Juarez, who escaped unharmed after returning fire in self-defense. The timing of the attack—mere days before the high-profile FBI searches on June 20—has fueled speculation about its connection to the corruption probe.

Juarez, a well-known figure in Oakland’s political circles, has a complex history tied to the case. A former business partner of David and Andy Duong—the father-and-son duo who own Cal Waste Solutions, Oakland’s curbside recycling contractor—Juarez featured prominently in the January 2025 indictment against Thao, her longtime partner Andre Jones, and the Duongs. Federal prosecutors allege that Juarez acted as a conduit in a "pay-to-play" scheme, facilitating the exchange of money and influence between Thao and the Duongs. The indictment claims Thao received $95,000 in payments and campaign support in exchange for promises to steer city contracts to the Duongs’ businesses. Juarez, while not charged, appears to have provided critical evidence to investigators, making him a potential linchpin in the case.

Oakland police arrested the two unnamed suspects in December, six months after the shooting, but the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office declined to file charges, citing insufficient evidence at the time. The men were subsequently released, and authorities have remained tight-lipped about their identities and the ongoing investigation. While neither local police nor the FBI have officially confirmed a link between the shooting and the corruption case, federal documents and Juarez’s own statements suggest the incidents may be connected. “Why was I targeted?” Juarez asked in an interview with the Chronicle, hinting that his knowledge of the scheme may have made him a liability.

The broader context of the case paints a picture of entrenched corruption in Oakland’s political landscape. Thao, who took office in January 2023, was indicted alongside Jones and the Duongs on charges of bribery, conspiracy, and fraud. Prosecutors allege that the Duongs funded a $75,000 negative mailer campaign against Thao’s opponents during the 2022 mayoral election and provided Jones with a no-show job, all to secure Thao’s favor once she assumed power. In return, Thao is accused of pushing for the city to extend Cal Waste’s recycling contract and purchase modular housing units from a Duong-affiliated company. All four defendants pleaded not guilty in January 2025, but the case has already cost Thao her political career—she was recalled by Oakland voters in November 2024, just months after the FBI raid on her home.

The attempted shooting of Juarez underscores the high stakes of the unfolding scandal. If linked to the corruption probe, it could suggest a desperate attempt to silence a witness whose testimony might prove damning in court. Public records reviewed by the Chronicle indicate that federal officials were aware of the shooting by June 20, the same day they executed their raids, hinting at a possible overlap in the investigations. Yet, without official confirmation or charges against the suspects, the full story remains murky.

For Oakland residents, the incident is another blow to trust in local leadership. The city, long plagued by crime and economic challenges, has seen its political establishment rocked by the Thao scandal. The release of the alleged hitmen without charges has only deepened skepticism about the justice system’s ability to hold powerful figures accountable. On social media platforms like Reddit, Bay Area commenters have expressed a mix of outrage and resignation, with one user quipping, “This is the most Oakland thing I’ve seen—arrested for trying to kill a witness, then released.”

As the federal case against Thao and her co-defendants moves forward, the attempted hit on Juarez looms as a dark footnote. Whether it was a calculated move to derail the investigation or an unrelated act of violence, it highlights the volatile undercurrents of a city grappling with corruption and its consequences. For now, the two men arrested in the plot remain free, and Juarez—unscathed but undoubtedly shaken—holds secrets that could shape the trial’s outcome. As of March 26, 2025, the truth behind the shooting remains elusive, but its shadow over the Sheng Thao saga is impossible to ignore.