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.

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.

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.