Former Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao, her longtime partner and two local businessmen were named in an indictment unsealed Friday alleging the four conspired to funnel city business to companies owned by the men in exchange for money and benefits to Thao and her partner.

OAKLAND, CA – Former Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao and her partner Andre Jones were indicted by a federal grand jury this week, confirmed the Mercury News and other news outlets Friday following a month long federal public corruption inquiry, occurring just before a recall election in which Thao was voted out of office.

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.

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.

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.