Dana Williamson, the former chief of staff to California Gov. Gavin Newsom, was arrested Wednesday on a sweeping set of federal charges tied to what prosecutors describe as a years-long financial scheme involving political funds, fraudulent tax filings, and the misuse of pandemic relief programs.
Federal prosecutors say Williamson and an associate conspired to illegally move “approximately $225,000 in funds from a dormant political campaign” by channeling the money through a network of business entities and disguising it as payment for a no-show job.
Williamson served as Newsom’s chief of staff from 2022 until the end of 2024, giving her sweeping influence inside the governor’s office and making her one of the most powerful unelected figures in California government, Politico reported.
Before joining the Newsom administration, Williamson served in senior roles under former Gov. Jerry Brown, including positions as a top advisor and cabinet secretary.
Williamson, 53, was indicted by a federal grand jury on an extensive list of charges, including conspiracy to commit bank and wire fraud, bank fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to defraud the United States, obstruction of justice, subscribing to false tax returns, and making false statements to the FBI.
Authorities say the indictment is the product of a multiyear investigation led by the FBI and IRS Criminal Investigation.
Federal investigators allege that after receiving a civil subpoena in early 2024 related to Paycheck Protection Program loans obtained by one of her businesses, Williamson worked with a business partner to create fake and backdated contracts in an attempt to conceal improprieties.
According to prosecutors, Williamson also claimed more than $1 million in fraudulent business deductions on her tax filings, masking personal expenditures as legitimate company costs.
Investigators say those disguised expenses included private jet travel, luxury hotel stays, and high-end designer handbags.
The Sacramento Bee, which first reported the charges, said Williamson “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 tax-related charge carries a potential maximum penalty of $100,000.
The indictment alleges Williamson and her associate used multiple entities to “funnel” political funds into accounts they controlled, disguising the payments as work arrangements even though no real services were performed.
Federal prosecutors say the no-show job scheme was designed to make the political funds appear to be legitimate business income while concealing their true source.
FBI Sacramento Special Agent in Charge Sid Patel praised the scope of the investigation, calling it the result of “three years of relentless investigative work” carried out alongside IRS Criminal Investigation and the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
“The FBI will remain vigilant in its efforts to uncover fraud and corruption, ensuring our government systems are held to the highest standards,” Patel said in a statement.
IRS Special Agent in Charge Linda Nguyen said Williamson was “disguising personal luxuries as business expenses,” adding that her agency would continue prioritizing cases involving tax fraud and public corruption.
The charges come at a politically sensitive moment in California, where several high-profile Democratic officials have recently faced scrutiny over ethics, campaign practices, and the handling of public funds.
Legal experts say the broad range of charges facing Williamson suggests prosecutors believe they have identified a pattern of conduct rather than an isolated violation.
If convicted on all counts, Williamson could face decades in federal prison and hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines, although sentencing guidelines typically result in terms far below the statutory maximums.
