Dana Williamson, 53, of Carmichael, California Governor Gavin Newsom’s former chief of staff, was arrested today, Wednesday, November 12, 2025, and charged with 23 counts in a sweeping federal indictment. The charges include conspiracy to commit bank and wire fraud, tax crimes, and conspiracy to obstruct justice, according to an announcement from U.S. Attorney Eric Grant of the Eastern District of California.
Williamson, a prominent political consultant who served as Newsom’s top aide until late 2024, was scheduled to make her initial court appearance this afternoon in Sacramento.
The charges follow a multiyear public corruption investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI).
“This is a crucial step in an ongoing political corruption investigation that began more than three years ago,” said U.S. Attorney Grant.
READ: Second Amendment Foundation Urges Supreme Court To Hear Assault Weapons Ban Case
According to court documents, the allegations against Williamson involve a broad range of criminal conduct between February 2022 and September 2024:
- Campaign Fund Diversion: Williamson is alleged to have conspired with others to divert approximately $225,000 from a dormant political campaign fund. The money was allegedly funneled through business entities and disguised as pay for a no-show job for an associate.
- False Tax Returns and Luxury Write-Offs: Williamson is accused of subscribing to false tax returns by claiming more than $1 million in fraudulent business deductions. These expenditures were allegedly for personal and non-deductible items, including private jet travel, luxury hotel stays, home furnishings, and designer handbags, as well as payroll for no-show jobs for friends and family.
- IRS-CI Special Agent in Charge Linda Nguyen commented: “Disguising personal luxuries as business expenses… is a serious criminal offense with severe consequences.”
- Obstruction of Justice: The indictment further alleges Williamson conspired to create false, backdated contracts after receiving a civil subpoena from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in early 2024 regarding Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans made to her business.
- False Statements: When questioned by FBI agents, Williamson is alleged to have made false statements regarding the campaign fund diversion, the backdated contracts, and public corruption allegations.
FBI Sacramento Special Agent in Charge Sid Patel emphasized, “The FBI will remain vigilant in its efforts to uncover fraud and corruption, ensuring our government systems are held to the highest standards.”
The United States concurrently unsealed charging documents for two other individuals charged by information in relation to this case.
Potential Penalties
If convicted, Williamson faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison for each count of bank fraud, wire fraud, and conspiracy to commit bank fraud and wire fraud. She also faces up to five years for each count of conspiracy to obstruct and making a false statement, and up to three years for each count of subscribing to a false tax return.
READ: Florida Rep. Byron Donalds Slams UC Berkeley, Blasts Dems On Affordability, Healthcare Costs
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox.
