Oakland Courts & East Bay Transit
Secret Tapes Played on Day 9 of Oakland Trial as AC Transit Detours 28
Witness Cecilia Mendez testified about November 2023 to February 2024 recordings capturing Mario Juarez and David Duong discussing Andre Jones and former Mayor Sheng Thao, while roadwork closes six stops on AC Transit Line 28.
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Secretly recorded audio from Evolutionary Homes board meetings held inside a California Waste Solutions conference room took center stage on Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026—Day 9 of the Oakland federal public corruption trial—while in San Leandro and Hayward, AC Transit announced an immediate roadwork detour on Line 28, according to reports from East Bay Insiders and AC Transit News.
Day 9 of Oakland Corruption Trial Features Secret Recordings of Juarez and Duong
As reported by Steve Tavares for East Bay Insiders, witness Cecilia Mendez—who began attending Evolutionary Homes board meetings in October 2023 at the request of Mario Juarez to represent Tijuana-based partner Daniel Johnson—testified that she recorded meetings between November 2023 and February 2024 to help reconstruct meeting minutes. Mendez worked without pay while promised a $7,000 monthly salary once modular housing units sold, turned the recordings over to the FBI in mid-2024, and received immunity on Tuesday before testifying Wednesday:
- Nov. 6 and Nov. 8, 2023 Recordings: In a Nov. 6, 2023 recording, Mario Juarez recounted meeting co-defendant Andre Jones—longtime partner and political adviser to former Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao—over drinks at Guadalajara Restaurant in East Oakland, telling the board that Jones asked for more money despite not completing a modular housing purchase agreement. David Duong replied, "I can't believe it. They haven't done anything and they want more money." A Nov. 8, 2023 recording captured discussion of Jones seeking $20,000 after an anticipated contract had expired.
- Nov. 28, 2023 Recording & Cross-Examination: By Nov. 28, 2023, Juarez expressed frustration over Oakland waiting for Alameda County to commit to modular housing purchases, while discussions also referenced outreach to Alameda County Supervisor Nate Miley and then-City Administrator Jestin Johnson. Under defense cross-examination, Thao's attorney established that Thao never attended the board meetings, while Mendez acknowledged an organizational chart omitting Jones was prepared for a Mexico subsidiary and that Duong associates demanded receipts from Juarez.
- Trial Schedule: Assistant U.S. Attorney Abraham Fine maintained his estimate of 13 to 16 trial days for the prosecution's case. Following Mendez's testimony Thursday morning, prosecutors plan to call former Assistant City Administrator Latonda Simmons, Jestin Johnson, and Mario Juarez, followed by 8 or 9 additional witnesses including Harold Duffey, former mayoral communications director Francis Zamora, and former San Leandro Councilmember Bryan Azevedo.
AC Transit Enacts Immediate Construction Detour on Line 28
In East Bay transit updates on Oct. 28, 2026, AC Transit announced that Line 28 is detoured effective immediately until further notice due to non-AC Transit roadwork construction in San Leandro:
- To Hayward: Closed stops are Marina Blvd & Railroad Crossing (stop 53696), Marina Blvd & San Leandro (stop 53695), and San Leandro Blvd & Castro St (stop 53738), with riders directed to alternative stops at San Leandro Blvd & Williams St (stop 55492) and Alvarado St & Marina Blvd (stop 59724).
- To San Leandro: Closed stops are San Leandro Blvd & Castro St (stop 53736), San Leandro Blvd & Marina Blvd (stop 59873), and Marina Blvd & Alvarado St (stop 53698), with alternative stops at Alvarado St & Aladdin Av (stop 59473) and San Leandro Blvd & Thornton St (stop 53484).
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