Former Gavin Newsom chief of staff charged in $225K fraud and corruption scheme, DOJ says

California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s erstwhile main of unit was arrested Wednesday and charged with a fig of fraud crimes for allegedly plotting to bargain $225,000 and springiness it to a friend, the Justice Department said. 

Dana Williamson, 53, was charged successful a 23-count national indictment charging her with conspiracy to perpetrate slope and ligament fraud, defrauding the United States, obstructing justice, filing mendacious taxation returns and lying to authorities.

Williams allegedly participated successful a strategy to funnel the wealth from a dormant governmental run to different person's relationship for idiosyncratic use. 

POTENTIAL PELOSI SUCCESSOR RE-UPS BILL TO BAN ICE FROM OBSCURING IDENTITIES: ‘SHUT THIS MASK S—T DOWN’

Dana Williamson, the erstwhile main of unit for California Gov. Gavin Newsom, speaks successful 2015 during a Assembly Health Committee hearing. Williamson was charged with aggregate fraud offenses, the Justice Department said Wednesday.  (Lea Suzuki/The San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)

"This is simply a important measurement successful an ongoing governmental corruption probe that began much than 3 years ago," U.S. Attorney Eric Grant said successful a statement. "As it ever has, the U.S. Attorney’s Office volition proceed to enactment tirelessly with our instrumentality enforcement partners to support the radical of California from governmental corruption."

Court documents named Sean McCluskie arsenic the co-conspirator who received those funds. At the time, helium was main of unit for idiosyncratic listed arsenic "Public Official 1." McCluskie is the erstwhile main of unit for erstwhile U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra.

Becerra antecedently served arsenic California lawyer wide earlier helium was appointed to the wellness caput presumption by erstwhile President Joe Biden.

Beginning successful April 2022, Williamson began helping McCluskie by utilizing her governmental consulting institution to measure Becerra's run for services. The funds were sent to McCluskie’s woman for enactment done for Williamson, which was ne'er performed arsenic portion of a "no-show job," national prosecutors said. 

Williamson prepared to articulation Newsom’s bureau successful precocious 2022. As a result, she arranged for an unnamed erstwhile nationalist authoritative to instrumentality implicit her relation successful the scheme, authorities said. 

GAVIN NEWSOM TELLS DEMOCRATS THEY 'WALKED AWAY' FROM MASCULINITY CRISIS IMPACTING MEN AND BOYS

Former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra speaks during a proceeding connected Capitol Hill Nov. 20, 2024, successful Washington, D.C. (Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)

Williamson was Newsom’s main of unit until precocious 2024.

"Ms. Williamson nary longer serves successful this administration," a Newsom spokesperson told Fox News Digital. "While we are inactive learning details of the allegations, the politician expects each nationalist servants to uphold the highest standards of integrity.

"At a clip erstwhile the president is openly calling for his lawyer wide to analyse his governmental enemies, it is particularly important to grant the American rule of being guiltless until proven blameworthy successful a tribunal of instrumentality by a assemblage of one’s peers."

The probe into the substance began during the Biden administration. The indictment doesn't notation Newsom. 

The indictment besides alleges that Williamson conspired with a concern subordinate to make false, backdated contracts aft receiving a civilian subpoena successful January 2024 from the U.S. Attorney’s Office regarding Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans made to Williamson’s business.

Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks during a property league astir "legal enactment against the Trump administration" astatine the Office of the Attorney General successful Sacramento, Calif., Oct. 28, 2025. (Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images)

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

"Disguising idiosyncratic luxuries arsenic concern expenses — particularly to assertion improper taxation deductions oregon to willfully record fraudulent taxation returns — is simply a superior transgression discourtesy with terrible consequences," said IRS Criminal Investigation Oakland Field Office Special Agent successful Charge Linda Nguyen.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.