“Federal prosecutors have filed charges against Dana Williamson, a political consultant and former chief of staff to California Governor Gavin Newsom. She is suspected of organizing a money laundering scheme, tax evasion in the amount of more than a million dollars and obstruction of justice.”, — write: www.pravda.com.ua
Photo: CalMatters/Miguel Gutierrez Jr. Source: NBC News
Details: On Wednesday, federal prosecutors in the Eastern District of California announced the arrest of 53-year-old Williamson. She was indicted on a 23-count indictment that includes conspiracy to commit bank and wire fraud, tax crimes, conspiracy to defraud the United States and obstruction of justice. According to prosecutor Eric Grant, the investigation of this scheme, which he characterized as “political corruption”, lasted more than three years.
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According to the case file, Williamson, acting with co-conspirators, arranged for the transfer of more than $225,000 from a suspended political campaign account to accounts associated with her partner for personal use between February 2022 and September 2024.
The indictment states that the funds were directed to Sean McCluskey’s bank account. At that time, he held the position of chief of staff of “state official No. 1”. Although the name of the official has not been released, it is known that McCluskey was the chief of staff of Xavier Becerra, who at the time served as the US Secretary of Health.
The scheme involved Williamson billing the purported consulting services to an inactive election account and McCluskey, who was responsible for approving the payments, approving them. The money then passed through several accounts and eventually found its way to McCluskey.
The payments were disguised as McCluskey’s wife’s income for work that investigators say was not actually performed. As Williamson prepared to join Governor Newsom’s administration in late 2022, she arranged with another co-conspirator to take over her role in concealing the illegal payments.
A separate block of charges concerns tax fraud. Prosecutors allege Williamson falsely declared more than $1 million in personal luxury expenses as business expenses to obtain improper tax deductions. These include trips to Mexican resorts, private jet and yacht charters, designer handbags, jewelry and even an air conditioning system for her home. For example, on her 2022 tax return, she reported $156,000 in hotel stays and entertainment in Mexico on her birthday as business expenses.
In addition, Williamson is charged with obstruction of justice. After receiving a civil subpoena in January 2024 in a case involving Payday Protection Program loans, she allegedly conspired with a business associate to create false, backdated contracts in the summer of 2024.
Xavier Becerra said he was cooperating with the Justice Department and called the news “a big blow.” A spokesman for Gov. Gavin Newsom confirmed that Williamson is no longer with the administration and stressed that the governor expects all public officials to uphold the highest standards of integrity, while stressing the importance of the presumption of innocence.