Gavin Newsom’s Former Chief of Staff Arrested on Fraud Charges
Dana Williamson, California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s (D) former chief of staff, was arrested and charged with a number of crimes on Wednesday, including conspiring to move “approximately $225,000 in funds from a dormant political campaign” to an associate, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Eastern District of California.
Williamson and the associate, according to authorities, “funneled the money through various business entities and disguised it as pay for what was, in reality, a no-show job.” The alleged criminal behavior happened between February 2022 and September 2024.
Those alleged crimes coincided with Williamson being Newsom’s top aide between 2022 and December 2024, Politico reported. She was also a former advisor and cabinet secretary for ex-Gov. Jerry Brown (D), prior to her work with Newsom.
The 53-year-old was charged by a federal grand jury with conspiracy to commit bank and wire fraud, bank fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to defraud the U.S. and obstruct justice, subscribing to false tax returns, and making false statements to the FBI. Her arrest is part of a multiyear investigation by the FBI and IRS Criminal Investigation unit.
Wednesday’s indictment alleges Williamson conspired with a business partner to create fake and backdated contracts after she received a civil subpoena in early 2024 from the U.S. Attorney’s Office regarding Paycheck Protection Program loans made to Williamson’s business.
She is also accused of claiming more than $1 million in bogus business deductions on her taxes. In reality, that money went towards private jet travel, designer handbags, and luxury hotels, according to authorities.
Williamson, according to The Sacramento Bee, the first outlet to report the news, “is named along with Greg Campbell, Sean McCluskie and two others… there are 23 counts in total; the 18 bank and wire fraud charges each carry a maximum of 20 years in prison and up to $250,000 in fines.” Her alleged tax crime carries a penalty of up to $100,000.
“Today’s charges are the result of three years of relentless investigative work, in partnership with IRS Criminal Investigation and the U.S. Attorney’s Office,” FBI Sacramento Special Agent in Charge Sid Patel said in a statement. “The FBI will remain vigilant in its efforts to uncover fraud and corruption, ensuring our government systems are held to the highest standards.”
IRS Special Agent in Charge Linda Nguyen, in her own statement, said Williamson was “disguising personal luxuries as business expenses.”
Williamson, who lives in Carmichael, CA., is due in court at 2:00 p.m. PT in Sacramento.
