UPDATE: San Leandro City Councilman Bryan Azevedo has officially pleaded not guilty to serious federal corruption charges during a court appearance on November 1, 2023. Azevedo is accused of accepting a $2,000 bribe from a housing company and subsequently lying to investigators about the alleged scheme.
The councilman, dressed in a dark grey suit and red tie, made a brief appearance in front of a U.S. district judge, where he faces charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and lying to a government agency. If convicted, he could face up to 20 years in prison.
Azevedo was granted release on a $25,000 bond and is scheduled for his next court hearing on January 8, 2024. This hearing follows recent indications from federal prosecutors that a plea deal may be in the works for the two-term councilman. Assistant U.S. Attorney Abraham Fine noted that Azevedo is “very close” to resolving his case, which could have significant implications for ongoing investigations into related corruption cases.
“There likely won’t be any substantive hearings until a potential change of plea or sentencing hearing,” prosecutors stated in a recent court filing.
The allegations against Azevedo involve claims that he accepted the bribe in November 2023 with the hope of influencing the San Leandro City Council to secure contracts for the company, Evolutionary Homes. Prosecutors assert that he had established a limited liability company in his wife’s name, opening a bank account linked to it to facilitate these illicit transactions.
This case has drawn attention due to its connections with another federal corruption investigation involving former Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao. She, along with her partner Andre Jones and the father-son duo of David and Andy Duong, are also implicated in alleged bribery schemes related to political favors and contracts.
The cases against Azevedo and Thao have been assigned to the same federal judge, indicating a potential overlap in the investigations. Prosecutors allege that Thao received bribes in exchange for promising contracts for Evolutionary Homes and renewing city contracts for the Duongs’ business, California Waste Solutions.
Azevedo, a sheet-metal foreman by trade, won a second term on the San Leandro City Council by a narrow margin of fewer than 500 votes last year. As the case unfolds, it raises critical questions about the integrity of local government and the potential fallout for those involved.
As this story develops, stay tuned for further updates on Azevedo’s case and its implications for local governance in San Leandro and beyond.
