The appointment reflects a key component of the alleged conspiracy: to fill major city staff roles with people who could favor Thao’s campaign backers for heavy public funding.

Federal authorities on Friday morning announced details of an indictment against recalled Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao, her boyfriend, and two members of the politically influential Duong family on corruption charges.

Federal prosecutors in California have indicted the former mayor of Oakland, her longtime partner and two business owners for bribery, conspiracy and mail and wire fraud