HUNT VALLEY, Md. (TNND) — A federal grand jury indicted a former high-ranking aide to California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Friday, prosecutors announced this week.
Dana Williamson, who was Newsom’s chief of staff from late 2022 to last December, faces multiple fraud charges, including bank and wire fraud, signing false tax returns and making false statements. She pleaded not guilty.
The governor was not connected to the alleged crimes.
“This is a crucial step in an ongoing political corruption investigation that began more than three years ago,” head federal prosecutor Eric Grant of California’s eastern office said in a statement.
“As it always has, the U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to work tirelessly with our law enforcement partners to protect the people of California from political corruption.”
Williamson allegedly helped transfer around a quarter of a million dollars from an inactive political campaign to one of her associates. Prosecutors accused her of helping funnel the money through multiple businesses and disguising it as pay for a “no-show job” for the wife of the former chief of staff to U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra during the Biden administration.
Becerra, who was California attorney general from 2017 to 2021, wasn’t implicated in any crimes.
Williamson also helped create false, backdated contracts after receiving a subpoena last year that concerned federal loans made to her business, prosecutors said. Additionally, she allegedly signed false tax returns and claimed more than $1 million in business deductions for what were actually personal expenses, like private jet travel, luxury home stays, home furnishings and designer handbags. Williamson claimed deductions for “no-show jobs” for family and friends as well, according to prosecutors.
FBI agents questioned her during investigations into her actions, but she made false statements, the attorneys noted.
“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,” Sid Patel, head FBI agent of the Sacramento office, said. “The FBI will remain vigilant in its efforts to uncover fraud and corruption, ensuring our government systems are held to the highest standards.”
Williamson didn’t return The National News Desk’s request for comment by the time it published this article. Law enforcement reportedly arrested her without giving her an opportunity to surrender, for which her attorney expressed shock.
“I’ve been around this business a long time, and I know how it’s supposed to be conducted,” McGregor Scott said, according to The New York Times. “What happened today is not how it’s supposed to be conducted.”
Have questions, concerns or tips? Send them to Ray at rjlewis@sbgtv.com.