Defense grills prosecution's central witness in Sheng Thao corruption trial

The government’s central witness in the federal corruption trial for former Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao was grilled by the defense Friday morning. The defense was trying to impeach the credibility of businessman Mario Juarez, who already has pleaded guilty to one crime in connection with the alleged bribery and corruption scheme involving Thao. Juarez agreed to testify on behalf of the government in hopes for a lighter sentence. Federal prosecutors claim David and Andy Duong, who own California Waste Solutions, and Evolutionary Homes, which was co-founded with Juarez, conspired with Thao and her longtime partner Andre Jones to use her political power in exchange for business favors and money for Jones. During trial Friday, one defense attorney questioned Juarez about the fairness of the plea deal given that Juarez has only been charged with one count of conspiracy while his alleged co-conspirators face several charges. I pled to the crime I was guilty of, Juarez said on the