A former San Francisco Human Rights Commission director and a nonprofit executive surrendered Monday and were charged with multiple felony counts following an 18-month investigation into alleged misuse of public funds tied to millions of dollars in city contracts.
Former Human Rights Commission Executive Director Sheryl Davis, 57, and James Spingola, 65, the former head of the nonprofit Collective Impact, were charged after investigators executed more than 50 search warrants as part of the probe into alleged conflicts of interest involving the city’s Dream Keeper Initiative, the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office said in a statement Monday.
Prosecutors allege Davis directed more than $4.5 million in city funds to Collective Impact while maintaining financial ties to the organization after becoming a city department head. According to a court affidavit, Davis remained a signatory on the nonprofit’s bank account and helped steer its spending while sharing finances, travel and a vehicle with Spingola, creating what authorities described as a direct financial interest in the contracts.
Davis also allegedly approved more than $3.5 million in city funding to the Homeless Children’s Network while the group paid nearly $140,000 to her son through an account she jointly controlled, prosecutors said.
Investigators further allege Davis approved contracts with a public relations firm that used city funds to perform work benefiting her personally and Collective Impact. She is also accused of failing to disclose gifts, improperly using departmental discretionary funds and facilitating the purchase of copies of a book she authored by the San Francisco Public Library from which she profited.
Davis faces 13 felony counts related to conflicts of interest in government contracts, along with additional felony counts including misappropriation of public funds and perjury, and two misdemeanor ethics-related violations. Spingola faces four felony counts of aiding and abetting conflicts of interest tied to city contracts with Collective Impact.
Both defendants surrendered Monday morning on arrest warrants and were booked into San Francisco County jail. They were expected to post bail, and arraignment dates have not yet been announced.