Former San Francisco Official Charged with Embezzlement and Misuse of Funds

Sheryl Davis, ex-director of the city's Human Rights Commission, faces 17 felony counts for allegedly funneling millions to her partner's nonprofit

Mar. 31, 2026 at 3:54am by Ben Kaplan

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An extreme close-up photograph of a stack of financial documents and receipts, lit by a harsh, direct camera flash against a pitch-black background, conceptually illustrating the investigation into the alleged misuse of public funds.A damning paper trail exposes the alleged misuse of public funds intended for community programs.San Francisco Today

Sheryl Davis, the former executive director of the San Francisco Human Rights Commission, has been charged with 17 felony counts including embezzlement of public funds, conflicts of interest in government contracts, perjury, and receiving gifts from prohibited sources. Authorities allege Davis steered millions from the city's Dream Keeper Initiative program to a nonprofit run by her live-in partner, James Spingola, and used the funds to finance a lavish lifestyle including first-class flights, concert tickets, and luxury events.

Why it matters

This case highlights ongoing concerns about the misuse of taxpayer-funded social programs, even those intended to address systemic inequities. It raises questions about the need for stronger oversight and accountability measures to ensure these initiatives truly benefit the communities they aim to serve.

The details

According to officials, Davis allegedly diverted millions from the city's $120 million Dream Keeper Initiative, a program launched in 2021 to direct funding away from police and toward Black-specific community programs, to Collective Impact, the nonprofit organization run by her partner Spingola. A city audit uncovered $4.6 million in ineligible or questionable spending under Davis' leadership. Authorities say the misused funds helped finance Davis' VIP lifestyle, including first-class flights, concert tickets, and luxury events, while also benefiting Spingola's organization.

  • On March 30, 2026, San Francisco's district attorney revealed that Sheryl Davis had been booked into the county jail.
  • The Dream Keeper Initiative was launched by former Mayor London Breed in 2021 in the aftermath of George Floyd's death.

The players

Sheryl Davis

The former executive director of the San Francisco Human Rights Commission, who is now facing 17 felony charges including embezzlement of public funds, conflicts of interest, perjury, and receiving gifts from prohibited sources.

James Spingola

The live-in partner of Sheryl Davis who formerly led a nonprofit organization in San Francisco, and is also facing charges for allegedly assisting in the scheme.

London Breed

The former mayor of San Francisco who launched the Dream Keeper Initiative, a $120 million program aimed at directing funding away from police and toward Black-specific community programs.

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What they’re saying

“She supposedly lacked proper guidance, financial supervision, and adequate support from the city.”

— Tony Brass, Attorney for Sheryl Davis

“Instead of squarely addressing the mountain of evidence, undisclosed relationships, dodgy invoices, and personal enrichment, defenders quickly pivot to questioning the investigators' motives, often hinting at unfair targeting of a prominent civil rights figure or an assault on equity programs themselves.”

— Richie Greenberg, Political commentator

What’s next

The case against Sheryl Davis and James Spingola is ongoing, with further investigations and court proceedings expected in the coming months.

The takeaway

This case highlights the need for stronger oversight and accountability measures to ensure taxpayer-funded social programs truly benefit the communities they aim to serve, rather than being exploited for personal gain. It underscores the importance of separating genuine policy disagreements from clear evidence of misconduct, regardless of an individual's background or the noble intentions behind the program.