FBI raids home of San Leandro councilman

SAN LEANDRO, Calif. - FBI agents on Wednesday raided the home of a San Leandro city councilman – the second Bay Area politician to be targeted by the federal agency in six months. 

What we know:

The East Bay Times first reported the raid, also pointing out that Bryan Azevedo was among several officials, including recalled Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao, who visited Vietnam two years ago.

Thao's home was raided by the FBI in June as part of a corruption probe. On Thursday she was criminally charged by a federal grand jury following the FBI investigation, according to a report from the San Francisco Chronicle.

KTVU reached out to Azevedo, but he did not respond.

On Thursday, KTVU visited his home in an attempt to secure an interview. He was not there, but his wife was, and she called the councilman.

"The news people are here," his wife said over the phone, which was on speaker.

"Well, if they ask you anything, just tell them that you have no comment," Azevedo replied.

He told the East Bay Times he is innocent until proven guilty. 

Azevedo was one of several East Bay officials who traveled to Vietnam in 2023 on a junket sponsored by David Duong, owner of the Oakland-based company California Waste Solutions.

The homes of David Duong and his son, Andy Duong, were also raided by the FBI on June 20, the same day they confiscated boxes from Thao's home.

The Duongs have not been charged with any crime.

"It is going to be politically damaging," said Dr. John Pelissero, a government ethics expert at Santa Clara University. "The biggest problem is the perception that the public will develop that because there was an FBI raid, and long before there would even be potential charges, they may come to believe he's involved in something that's nefarious."

Local perspective:

On Thursday, San Leandro city spokesman Paul Sanftner told KTVU that the city was aware of the FBI's "warrant service" at Azevedo’s home. 

He added that the San Leandro Police Department is not involved with the FBI’s investigation and, because of that, doesn't have any investigative details into what's going on.

Sanftner also said that it is his understanding that the city of San Leandro did not pay for Azevedo’s travel expenses to attend the 2023 Vietnam trip. 

The only expense incurred by San Leandro, he added, was "city-branded giveaway merchandise," which cost approximately $350, which Azevedo could gift to whoever he wished during the trip.

Azevedo remains an active member of the City Council, Sanftner said. 

What's next:

San Leandro Mayor Juan Gonzalez III said it will be business as usual  when he meets with the six-member council on Tuesday,

"We don't have information from the FBI about what they were doing here in San Leandro. And so absent that, it's hard to have a concern of any kind. We're waiting to see what information they'll provide and then, as that information becomes available, we will react accordingly," Gonzalez said.

The mayor said there have been no changes to procedures or committee assignments due to the raid, reiterating that it's still unclear if Azevedo was the target of the home search.

What we don't know:

The FBI will not say what these investigations have been about, but both Duongs have been the subjects of the Oakland’s Public Ethics Commission over allegations they used "straw donors" to funnel money to City Council candidates in past elections.

As for Azevedo, all the FBI would confirm is that the agency performed a law enforcement "action" on the 900 block of Dillo Street in San Leandro. 

A spokesperson said they were unable to provide any additional information at this time.