San Leandro City Council Member Accused of Corruption to Retire on Eve of Court Hearing

A San Leandro City Council member accused of conspiracy in connection with an ongoing federal corruption probe is retiring — a day before he is expected to appear in court — city officials said Monday.

Councilmember Bryan Azevedo is expected to change his “not guilty” plea in federal court on Wednesday in a case where he is accused of accepting cash in exchange for agreeing to use his official position to benefit a housing company. Federal prosecutors allege Azevedo lied to FBI and IRS Criminal Investigation agents when questioned.

KQED was unable to reach Azevedo by phone for comment.

“The city of San Leandro announced today that it has received a formal letter of retirement from District 2 Councilmember Bryan Azevedo,” city officials said in a statement on Monday afternoon. The retirement is effective on Tuesday at 9 a.m.

The charges are related to the corruption investigation into former Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao, her longtime partner Andre Jones, and David and Andy Duong. David Duong is the CEO of California Waste Solutions, Oakland’s curbside recycling provider. Andy Duong is his son.

All four were indicted in Jan. 2025 on bribery, conspiracy and fraud charges. Andy Duong was also charged with lying to federal officials. All of the defendants have pleaded “not guilty.”

Azevedo was charged in October with one count of conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud — a form of defrauding the public — and one count of making false statements to government agents.

Federal prosecutors allege he conspired with two unnamed individuals to help a housing company obtain contracts from the city of San Leandro in exchange for money.

Azevedo pleaded not guilty at an arraignment last year. But court records have indicated that a possible plea deal is in the works.

“The government and Azevedo are close to reaching a resolution of his case and do not expect contested pretrial litigation or a trial,” U.S. attorneys wrote in a November filing. “There are unlikely to be further substantive hearings until a potential change of plea or sentencing hearing.”

Had Azevedo not retired and entered a guilty plea Wednesday, he would have been immediately suspended from the city council per state law.

San Leandro’s city council will discuss options for filling Azevedo’s seat at its upcoming Feb. 17 meeting.