Thao has maintained her innocence and denied she is at the center of a public corruption scandal. She has largely laid low since being recalled in November.

A federal grand jury has indicted Oakland’s recalled Mayor Sheng Thao, a source with knowledge of the investigation told the Bay Area News Group — a stunning development in a federal public corruption inquiry that touched the highest levels of East Bay’s political class.

Former Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao, her boyfriend and a father-son team who run the local recycling company were indicted Friday on federal bribery and conspiracy charges for an alleged pay-to-play scheme.

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

Former Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao has been indicted on federal bribery charges stemming from an FBI investigation into an alleged payment scheme with a Bay Area trash hauler. Prosecutors allege that Thao promised the city would extend Oakland’s contract with a recycling company and purchase housing units from its politically-connected owners in exchange for financial benefits.

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.

Sheng Thao, the former recalled mayor of Oakland, California, faces corruption charges related to her boyfriend and two others, authorities said.