Former Gavin Newsom chief of staff pleads guilty in fraud scheme

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (CN) — A former chief of staff to Governor Gavin Newsom whose fraud accusations linked her to a front-runner in the governor’s race pleaded guilty Thursday in federal court.

The accusations against Dana Williamson, 53, a former chief of staff for Newsom, sent shockwaves around the Capitol when authorities revealed them late last year. Officials say Williamson and two men conspired to funnel $225,000 from Xavier Becerra’s campaign coffers between 2022 and 2024.

Then the secretary for U.S. Health and Human Services, Becerra is now a leading contender to become California’s next governor.

Williamson maintained her innocence until Thursday’s about-face. She pleaded guilty to three counts: conspiracy to commit bank fraud and wire fraud, subscribing to a false tax return and making false statements. Prosecutors intend to drop all other charges against her.

“Guilty or not guilty?” U.S. District Judge Troy Nunley asked Williamson on each count. “Guilty,” she replied each time to the Barack Obama appointee.

Williamson faces a maximum of 30 years in prison on the conspiracy charge. She remained free on bond Thursday. Her sentencing hasn’t been scheduled.

The men connected to Williamson pleaded guilty within weeks of authorities revealing the accusations.

Sean McCluskie, who served as chief of staff to Becerra, pleaded guilty in November 2025 to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and wire fraud. The next month, lobbyist Greg Campbell entered pleas to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and wire fraud, and conspiracy to defraud the United States and commit offenses against the U.S.

Neither has been sentenced.

According to prosecutors, McCluskie and Williamson met in early 2022 to discuss his desire for more money — needed for what prosecutors called a bicoastal lifestyle. McCluskie had taken a pay cut as chief of staff for Becerra and his expenses exceeded his income.

To obtain more money, prosecutors say McCluskie paid Williamson $7,500 a month from Becerra’s dormant campaign account — supposedly the cost of maintaining the account. Williamson then paid $10,000 each month to a company controlled by Campbell, and that company paid McCluskie’s wife $10,000 a month for a no-show job, according to prosecutors.

“Campbell further acknowledged that such conduct amounted to ‘laundering money,’ and it was, indeed, ‘wrong,’” prosecutors wrote.

That conspiracy lasted from February 2022 to September 2024, according to Assistant U.S. Attorney Rosanne Rust.

Campbell’s second charge stemmed from fake contracts he made for Williamson during the summer of 2024.

During that summer, Williamson was responding to a federal subpoena about a paycheck protection program loan she’d received. Despite never having a contract with Campbell, Williamson asked him to create a retroactive contract for her, prosecutors say.

“The contracts were signed and backdated,” prosecutors added. “The fake contracts made it appear as though co-conspirator 1 was only providing nonlobbying services to her clients and her firm was only a subcontractor for Campbell’s independently owned lobbying firm.”