Dana Williamson Pleads Guilty in $225,000 Becerra Fund Scheme, Owing $500,000 to IRS
Updated
Updated · POLITICO · May 14
Dana Williamson Pleads Guilty in $225,000 Becerra Fund Scheme, Owing $500,000 to IRS
9 articles · Updated · POLITICO · May 14
Dana Williamson pleaded guilty Thursday in Sacramento to three felonies tied to a scheme that siphoned $225,000 from Xavier Becerra’s dormant campaign account, with sentencing likely pushed to September or October.
Under the plea deal, Williamson must repay about $500,000 to the IRS for false 2023 tax deductions and join co-conspirators in paying back the stolen campaign money; guideline calculations point to roughly three years in prison.
Plea documents say Williamson and the others lied to Becerra about the payments’ purpose, reinforcing prosecutors’ position that he was kept in the dark; her lawyer said she never spoke directly with him about the scheme.
The case still shadows Becerra’s gubernatorial bid: his campaign said the plea should end suggestions of legal exposure, while rival Tom Steyer argued the matter remains politically dangerous ahead of November.
Beyond campaign fraud, what other serious crimes has this California power broker admitted to?
What does this corruption case reveal about the candidate whose campaign funds were stolen?
A top aide pleads guilty to a 'no-show' job scheme; how common is this form of political corruption?