A federal judge has set a tentative start date next year for the corruption trial of former Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao and her three co-defendants.

Thao, her longtime partner Andre Jones, and businessmen David and Andy Duong, were indicted Jan. 9 in what federal prosecutors have described as an alleged “pay-to-play” scheme .

David Duong, the head of California Waste Solutions, Oakland’s curbside recycling provider, along with his son Andy, ran a company called Evolutionary Homes that aimed to sell converted shipping containers to Bay Area cities as housing for the homeless.

U.S. attorneys allege Thao agreed to take action as mayor to commit Oakland to purchase units from the Duongs’ housing company in exchange for kickbacks and favors for Thao and Jones, including the funding of neg

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