California Political Consultant and Former Public Official Pleads Guilty in Federal Fraud, Tax, and False Statements Case

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A California political consultant and former public official has pleaded guilty in federal court to multiple felony offenses tied to a multiyear financial fraud investigation involving campaign funds, false tax filings, fabricated business records, and misleading statements made to federal investigators.

United States Attorney ERIC GRANT announced Thursday that DANA WILLIAMSON, 53, of Carmichael, California, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and wire fraud, subscribing to a false tax return, and making false statements to federal agents.

Federal prosecutors stated the case is tied to what investigators identified as the “Conduit Scheme,” an alleged conspiracy involving the diversion and laundering of political campaign funds through business entities and fraudulent financial arrangements designed to conceal the true movement and use of money.

According to court documents, the scheme operated between approximately February 2022 and September 2024 and involved WILLIAMSON, GREG CAMPBELL, 52, of Davis, California, SEAN MCCLUSKIE, 57, of Davis, and additional associates.

Federal authorities alleged the conspirators diverted approximately $225,000 from a dormant political campaign account and funneled the money through various entities in order to disguise the payments and redirect funds for personal use.

According to prosecutors, the payments were falsely characterized as compensation for legitimate work performed by MCCLUSKIE’s spouse when, in reality, the arrangement allegedly involved a no-show position intended to conceal the true beneficiary of the money.

Federal investigators described the operation as a conduit-style fraud structure designed to obscure the source and destination of campaign funds while avoiding scrutiny from financial institutions, regulators, and investigators.

The investigation additionally uncovered alleged tax fraud involving substantial personal expenditures improperly claimed as business deductions over multiple tax years.

According to federal prosecutors, from 2021 through 2023 WILLIAMSON claimed approximately $1.7 million in business deductions tied to expenses authorities allege were personal and nondeductible in nature.

Court records state the deductions allegedly included food delivery services, luxury vacations to Mexico and Santa Barbara, private jet travel, home goods, veterinary expenses, landscaping services, and purported wages paid to family members.

Federal prosecutors stated the improper deductions generated an estimated tax loss of approximately $504,523. As part of the plea agreement, WILLIAMSON agreed to repay the IRS the full amount in restitution.

Investigators additionally alleged WILLIAMSON attempted to obstruct aspects of the federal investigation by making false statements during an FBI interview conducted in November 2024.

According to prosecutors, WILLIAMSON denied involvement in the diversion of campaign funds and denied requesting the creation of false or backdated contracts after receiving a civil subpoena connected to Paycheck Protection Program loan investigations involving her business operations.

Federal authorities further alleged the false statements were intended to conceal aspects of the conduit scheme and hide efforts to pass confidential information to former clients and business associates in order to provide advantages in litigation involving the State of California.

The case reflects increasing federal scrutiny involving campaign finance misconduct, misuse of political funds, fraudulent financial structures, tax violations, and public corruption-related investigations tied to political consulting operations and former government officials.

Federal investigators have repeatedly warned that conduit payment structures, shell entities, layered transactions, fabricated contracts, and disguised consulting arrangements are frequently used in white-collar financial crimes to conceal the movement of money and obscure the true purpose of transactions.

The investigation was conducted jointly by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and IRS Criminal Investigation following a multiyear inquiry into campaign fund diversion, financial fraud, and tax-related offenses.

Federal officials stated two additional defendants previously entered guilty pleas connected to the broader investigation.

On November 20, 2025, SEAN MCCLUSKIE pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and wire fraud. On December 4, 2025, GREG CAMPBELL pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and wire fraud as well as conspiracy to defraud the United States and commit offenses against the United States.

Both defendants are scheduled to appear before Chief United States District Judge TROY L. NUNLEY for a sentencing status hearing on June 4, 2026.

A status conference involving WILLIAMSON’s sentencing is scheduled before Chief Judge NUNLEY on July 9, 2026.

Federal prosecutors stated WILLIAMSON faces a maximum statutory sentence of 30 years imprisonment, a $1 million fine, and restitution obligations tied to the fraud conspiracy count. Additional penalties tied to the tax and false statements offenses remain subject to federal sentencing guidelines and judicial determination.

The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorneys MICHAEL D. ANDERSON, KATHERINE T. LYDON, and MATTHEW THUESEN, along with Public Integrity Section Trial Attorney ALEXANDRE DEMPSEY.

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