Former executive director of San Francisco city department arrested

A former executive director of the San Francisco Human Rights Commission was arrested on Monday on suspicion of misusing millions of dollars. 

Sheryl Davis, the former director of the city department focused on civil rights and equity, is facing several felony charges after an 18-month investigation revealed that she was allegedly steering public funds to a nonprofit and for her own benefit. 

Davis is accused of diverting millions of dollars worth of the city’s money to other nonprofits, including Collective Impact, a nonprofit where she previously worked. James Spingola, who was in charge of the organization at the time and lived with Davis, is also accused in the scheme and is facing four felony counts, the office of San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins said in a news release. 

Davis allegedly directed more than $4.5 million to Collective Impact from the Dream Keeper Initiative, a city program that distributes arts and culture grants to the Black community, the DA said. She allegedly had access to Collective Impact’s bank account and used part of the funds for her “home life, including her rent,” the DA’s office. 

Prosecutors also alleged that Davis’ personal life was funded by some of Spingola’s salary, which she did not disclose to city officials. 

Davis and Spingola allegedly lived together, traveled together and shared a car and bank account, the DA’s office said. 

“This financial intermingling resulted in Ms. Davis having a direct financial interest in the contracts executed,” the DA’s office said. “Ms. Davis was funneling City money to Collective Impact, while also steering how Collective Impact spent its funds, both for HRC use and for her personal benefit.”

The DA’s office also accused Davis of signing contracts to organizations that paid her family members, including sending $3.5 million to the Homeless Children’s Network, which allegedly paid her son $140,000. Other contracts that Davis allegedly signed paid for public relations services for her and Collective Impact, the DA said. 

Prosecutors alleged that Davis accepted gifts from Collective Impact without notifying anyone and that she profited by selling copies of a book she authored to the San Francisco Public Library. 

Investigators conducted more than 50 search warrants before an arrest warrant was issued for Davis and Spingola. Both surrendered and have been booked into the San Francisco County Jail. The two were expected to post bail, the DA’s office said. 

As of Tuesday afternoon, Davis is not listed in the jail records. Spingola is still listed in the city’s jail records, with bail set at $50,000. 

Davis’ attorney, Tony Brass, did not return SFGATE’s request for comment before the time of publication. Spingola’s attorney, Randall Knox, told SFGATE that he is still reviewing the evidence for the case.