A former prime aide to California Governor Gavin Newsom, Dana Williamson, was indicted on federal expenses alleging her involvement in a scheme to steal marketing campaign cash from former federal Secretary of Well being and Human Providers Xavier Becerra. She was arrested and scheduled to make her first courtroom look on Wednesday in Sacramento, CNN reported. The federal indictment names 4 co-conspirators and alleges that Williamson conspired with Sean McCluskie, who served as Becerra’s chief of workers on the time, to divert about $225,000 from Becerra’s dormant marketing campaign account over greater than two years.In response to the indictment, Williamson started aiding McCluskie in April 2022 through the use of her political consulting firm to invoice Becerra’s marketing campaign account for purported providers. The funds had been then funnelled to McCluskie’s spouse for work supposedly finished for Williamson. When she ready to affix Newsom’s workplace in late 2022, she organized for “Co-Conspirator 2” — an unnamed former public official — to take over her position within the scheme.The indictment contains particulars of emails, calls and conferences relating to the alleged scheme and cover-up whereas Williamson served as chief of workers to Governor Newsom, a place she held till late 2024.Williamson was additionally charged with falsifying enterprise contracts to safe Paycheck Safety Program loans her firm obtained through the Covid-19 pandemic. She allegedly requested an affiliate to create a retroactive contract stating her firm offered providers to his firm in order that she could be eligible for the loans and mortgage forgiveness.The indictment additional accuses her of submitting fraudulent tax types for her enterprise from 2021 to 2023, claiming greater than $1 million in enterprise deductions for private bills, together with luxurious purses and jewelry, non-public jet journey, holidays in Mexico, set up of a house HVAC system, and several other hundred thousand {dollars} paid to numerous family members for pretend jobs.Court docket filings present that McCluskie signed a plea deal on October 30, agreeing to plead responsible to at least one rely of conspiracy to commit financial institution fraud and wire fraud and to pay $225,000 in restitution to Becerra.In an announcement, a spokesperson for the Governor mentioned: “Ms. Williamson now not serves on this administration. Whereas we’re nonetheless studying particulars of the allegations, the Governor expects all public servants to uphold the very best requirements of integrity.”FBI Sacramento Particular Agent in Cost Sid Patel mentioned the investigation started greater than three years in the past, underneath the Biden administration. Williamson faces 23 expenses, together with conspiracy to commit financial institution and wire fraud, financial institution fraud, conspiracy to defraud the US and impede justice, subscribing to false tax returns and making false statements. If convicted, she might resist 20 years in jail.Williamson is a longtime Democratic energy participant in Sacramento. She served as a Cupboard secretary for Governor Jerry Brown earlier than founding a political affairs agency. She was additionally Becerra’s marketing campaign supervisor in his 2018 legal professional normal marketing campaign and later returned to state authorities as Newsom’s chief of workers.
