Bribery and Perjury Case Against Bay Area Detective in Limbo Before Trial

Prosecutors' shifting stances delay the start of the trial against Oakland police detective Phong Tran.

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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The bribery and perjury case against Oakland police detective Phong Tran was thrown into uncertainty on Monday, just days before his trial was set to begin. Prosecutors in the Alameda County District Attorney's office revealed they had planned to drop all but one charge against Tran, but then reversed course and decided to proceed with the full four-count indictment. This back-and-forth led the judge to delay assigning the case to a trial judge for a week.

Why it matters

The case against Tran has already led to a sprawling review of an estimated 200 other cases he has worked on, resulting in multiple lenient plea deals, case dismissals, and the overturning of at least three murder convictions. The prosecutor's shifting stances on the charges have now further complicated and delayed the start of Tran's trial.

The details

Tran, a veteran Oakland police homicide detective with over a decade of experience, faces three perjury-related charges and one count of bribery of a witness. The charges stem from a scandal that has rocked the Alameda County criminal justice system. Prosecutors revealed on Thursday that they planned to drop all but one charge against Tran, but then reversed that decision on Monday, saying they would proceed with the full four-count indictment. This back-and-forth led the judge to delay assigning the case to a trial judge for a week.

  • The case against Tran was expected to go to trial on Monday, March 3, 2026.
  • On Thursday, February 27, 2026, prosecutors told the judge they planned to drop all but one charge against Tran.
  • On Monday, March 3, 2026, prosecutors reversed course and said they would proceed with the full four-count indictment against Tran.

The players

Phong Tran

An Oakland police detective with over a decade of experience investigating homicides in the East Bay.

Ursula Jones Dickson

The Alameda County District Attorney whose office is prosecuting the case against Tran.

Darby Williams

The deputy district attorney overseeing the case against Tran.

Andrew Ganz

The attorney representing Tran in the case.

Roz Silvaggio

The Alameda County Superior Court judge presiding over the case.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Thursday whether to allow prosecutors to proceed with the full four-count indictment against Tran or if they will only be able to pursue a single charge.

The takeaway

The shifting stances by prosecutors in this high-profile case have further complicated and delayed the start of Tran's trial, raising questions about the integrity of the Alameda County criminal justice system and the handling of cases involving law enforcement officers.