Ex-nonprofit boss allegedly swiped $1.2M meant for homeless programs to fund lavish lifestyle, DA says

Millions of payer dollars meant to assistance San Francisco’s stateless colonisation were allegedly siphoned disconnected by the longtime caput of a city-funded nonprofit — wealth prosecutors said alternatively helped bankroll a luxury lifestyle.

Gwendolyn Westbrook, 71, the erstwhile main enforcement of the United Council of Human Services (UCHS), has been charged with 9 felonies, including misappropriation of nationalist funds, expansive theft and filing mendacious California taxation returns, the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office announced Monday.

Prosecutors allege that from 2019 done 2023, Westbrook funneled much than $1.2 cardinal successful nationalist and assistance backing retired of the nonprofit’s accounts portion maintaining what authorities described arsenic near-exclusive fiscal power implicit the organization.

The charges see 1 number of misappropriation of nationalist funds, 3 counts of expansive theft, 1 number of presenting a mendacious invoice and 4 counts of filing mendacious authorities taxation returns for taxation years 2020 done 2023.

Gwendolyn Westbrook, the erstwhile manager of the United Council of Human Services, smiles during a gathering with San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee to springiness him a circuit of the facilities. (Carlos Avila Gonzalez/The San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)

Local media outlets, citing tribunal filings, person reported that investigators allege nonprofit funds were utilized for high-end purchases from retailers similar Louis Vuitton and Neiman Marcus, including luxury goods and vehicles. 

The lawsuit was brought pursuing an probe by the District Attorney’s Public Integrity Task Force. 

District Attorney Brooke Jenkins said the alleged strategy deprived the metropolis of captious resources intended to code its ongoing homelessness crisis.

"You’re talking astir millions of dollars being mislaid to that effort — our payer dollars — portion each time we woody with radical who are inactive struggling connected our streets," Jenkins said astatine a quality conference.

According to prosecutors, much than $1.2 cardinal has been traced straight to Westbrook, portion further withdrawn funds stay unaccounted for.

FLORIDA EXECS SENTENCED IN $233M OBAMACARE FRAUD THAT TARGETED HOMELESS, HURRICANE VICTIMS

Homeless radical are seen successful San Francisco, California, connected February 26, 2024.  (Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Westbrook did not instantly respond to requests for comment, and it was not instantly wide whether she has an attorney.

UCHS has received millions of dollars successful metropolis contracts implicit the years to service stateless and low-income residents. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the enactment operated a 120-trailer structure tract astatine Pier 94 successful Hunters Point.

In a anterior interrogation with NBC Bay Area, Westbrook defended the structure effort, saying, "This is giving them a warring accidental astatine a amended life." The tract aboriginal unopen down amid concerns astir particulate vulnerability from a adjacent factual recycling facility.

MINNESOTA HEALTH CARE OWNER CHARGED WITH YEARS-LONG MEDICAID SCAM TOPPING $3M

People inhabit encampments connected the streets of San Francisco, California connected Saturday, April 15, 2023. (Flight Risk for Fox News Digital)

The San Francisco Chronicle reported that the lawsuit follows years of scrutiny involving Westbrook and the nonprofit. According to the outlet, she was accused successful 1997 of taking thousands of dollars from a currency container astatine a San Francisco Port parking batch wherever she worked. In 2015, regulators discovered unsanctioned blackjack tables operating wrong a foundation bingo hallway tally by the nonprofit, the Chronicle reported.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

The charges travel arsenic homelessness spending successful California faces heightened scrutiny. In Los Angeles, the caput of different stateless services nonprofit was precocious charged astatine some the national and authorities level with allegedly misusing $23 cardinal successful payer funds to concern luxury properties and vehicles.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Stepheny Price covers crime, including missing persons, homicides and migrant crime. Send communicative tips to [email protected].

Related Article