A woman tasked with defending human rights in San Francisco was accused of stealing funds from a nonprofit for personal gain, according to prosecutors.
Sheryl Davis, 57, faces 17 felony charges including conflict of interest in government contracts, perjury, and misappropriating public funds. Prosecutors allege she diverted tens of millions of city dollars from the Dream Keeper Initiative—a program intended to support African-American communities following the George Floyd protests—into accounts where she could benefit personally.
Authorities were alerted by a whistleblower about Davis’ alleged misconduct, according to a press release from San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins. The charity that received $3.5 million in city funds for homeless children paid Davis’ son approximately $140,000, which was deposited into a bank account jointly owned and controlled by Davis.
Davis and 65-year-old James Spingola, who ran a San Francisco nonprofit, were charged with multiple schemes to embezzle public money. Spingola faces four felony counts of aiding and abetting Davis’ conflicts of interest in city contracts. Both were arrested on Monday and booked into the San Francisco County Jail, each posting $50,000 bonds. Davis was fired in 2024 after it was discovered she lived with Spingola without disclosing their relationship to the grant recipient and was also accused of misusing funds at that time—her annual salary for the position was $350,000.
Jenkins stated, “These are not routine charges. But I want to be clear: These are allegations that will ultimately be proven or disproven in court.” Prosecutors say Davis may face additional charges as the investigation—which involved more than 50 search warrants and spanned over 18 months—continues.
After her arrest, Davis posted on social media: “Where are my encouraging and supportive sisters?” Her attorney has denied any guilt of felonious conduct.
