Ex-Newsom aide charged in $225k fraud, DOJ says

California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s former chief of employees was arrested Wednesday and charged with quite a lot of fraud crimes for allegedly plotting to steal $225,000 and provides it to a pal, the Justice Division mentioned.

Dana Williamson, 53, was charged in a 23-count federal indictment charging her with conspiracy to commit financial institution and wire fraud, to defraud the USA, to impede justice, to file false tax returns and to mislead authorities.

Williams is alleged to have participated in a scheme to direct cash from a dormant political marketing campaign to another person’s account for his private use.

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Dana Williamson, former chief of employees to California Governor Gavin Newsom, speaks throughout a 2015 Meeting Well being Committee listening to. Williamson was charged with a number of fraud crimes, the Justice Division mentioned Wednesday. (Lea Suzuki/The San Francisco Chronicle by way of Getty Pictures)

“It is a crucial step in an ongoing investigation into political corruption that started greater than three years in the past,” U.S. Lawyer Eric Grant mentioned in an announcement. “Because it all the time has, the U.S. Lawyer’s Workplace will proceed to work tirelessly with our legislation enforcement companions to guard the folks of California from political corruption.”

Courtroom paperwork named Sean McCluskie because the co-conspirator who obtained the cash. On the time, he was chief of employees to somebody listed as “Authorities Official 1.” McCluskie is the previous chief of employees to former U.S. Secretary of Well being and Human Companies Xavier Becerra.

Becerra beforehand served as California’s lawyer normal earlier than being appointed well being secretary by former President Joe Biden.

Starting in April 2022, Williamson started aiding McCluskie through the use of her political consulting agency to invoice Becerra’s marketing campaign for companies. The cash was despatched to McCluskie’s spouse for work accomplished for Williamson, which was by no means carried out as a part of a “no-show job,” federal prosecutors mentioned.

Williamson was making ready to affix Newsom’s workplace in late 2022. In consequence, she organized for an unnamed former official to take over her position within the scheme, authorities mentioned.

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Former Secretary of Well being and Human Companies Xavier Becerra speaks throughout a listening to on Capitol Hill on November 20, 2024 in Washington, D.C. (Tasos Katopodis/Getty Pictures)

Williamson served as Newsom’s chief of employees till the tip of 2024.

“Mrs. Williamson is now not a member of this administration,” a spokesperson for Newsom instructed Fox Information Digital. “Whereas we’re nonetheless studying the small print of the allegations, the Governor expects all public officers to keep up the very best requirements of integrity.

“At a time when the president is overtly calling on his lawyer normal to analyze his political enemies, it’s particularly essential to uphold the American precept of harmless till confirmed responsible by a jury of his friends in courtroom.”

The investigation into the case started throughout the Biden administration. The indictment doesn’t point out Newsom.

The indictment additionally alleges that Williamson conspired with a enterprise affiliate to create false retroactive contracts after receiving a civil subpoena from the U.S. Lawyer’s Workplace in January 2024 relating to Paycheck Safety Program (PPP) loans made to Williamson’s firm.

Governor Gavin Newsom speaks throughout a press convention on “authorized motion towards the Trump administration” on the lawyer normal’s workplace in Sacramento, California, October 28, 2025. (Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu by way of Getty Pictures)

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“Disguising private luxuries as enterprise bills – particularly to say improper tax deductions or to deliberately file fraudulent tax returns – is a severe prison offense with severe penalties,” mentioned IRS Legal Investigation Oakland Area Workplace Particular Agent in Cost Linda Nguyen.

The Related Press contributed to this report.