Oakland political operative Mario Juarez has been targeted in two separate incidents, raising concerns about his safety and the motives behind the attacks. The first incident occurred on May 9, when Juarez was assaulted at 1211 Embarcadero, the same address that was later raided by the FBI and IRS on June 20. The second incident took place on June 9 at Juarez’s residence on the 1800 block of Fruitvale Avenue, where he narrowly escaped gunfire.
Authorities are currently investigating both incidents, and no arrests have been made thus far. Juarez’s attorney, Ernie Castillo, confirmed the seriousness of the injuries sustained during the assault at 1211 Embarcadero but did not provide further details about Juarez’s current condition. Castillo described both incidents as attempts to murder Juarez, refraining from speculating on the motives behind the attacks.
Juarez, a longtime political operative and two-time Oakland council candidate, has recently faced legal troubles. In January, he was charged with felony fraud for allegedly orchestrating election mailers against mayoral opponent Loren Taylor during the 2022 mayoral campaign. The mailers also targeted Ignacio De La Fuente and former Mayor Libby Schaaf. Prosecutors claim that Juarez commissioned the flyers using bounced checks, leading to immediate and devastating consequences for the direct mailing company involved.
The Fair Political Practices Commission is conducting an open investigation into the mailers, as Juarez failed to file required disclosure forms regarding the source of his funds. The impact of the bounced checks on the direct mailing company was severe, with the postal service severing its business relationship, nearly forcing the family-run business to close.
Mario Juarez has pleaded not guilty to the charges, and his attorney maintains his innocence, suggesting that the case is politically motivated. Juarez’s background reveals involvement in various industries, including debt collection, entertainment, clean energy, and real estate. However, several state and federal tax liens have been filed against him since 2015, with some remaining outstanding.
