A former leader in California’s civil rights movement stands accused of embezzling $100,000 by orchestrating a significant purchase of her children’s books by a library, amid claims she misappropriated funds intended for the black community.

Sheryl Davis, who previously served as the director of San Francisco’s Human Rights Commission, was arrested on Monday. Prosecutors allege she engaged in a “pervasive pattern of self-dealing,” misusing thousands of taxpayer dollars.

Davis is accused of leveraging her partner’s nonprofit organization as a “slush fund” for extravagant personal expenses, covering everything from travel and VIP event tickets to her son’s tuition at UCLA.

On Tuesday, an affidavit disclosed that Davis allegedly used thousands of dollars for promoting her children’s book through questionable agreements and high-profile events featuring celebrities, as reported by The New York Post.

The activist, who once held significant respect, is accused of arranging the sale of 1,500 copies of her book “Free to Sing” to the San Francisco Public Library. The book tells the story of a young black girl who loves singing despite facing criticism.

According to an economic disclosure filing, Davis earned $100,000 in 2024 from these book sales through her publisher, Book Baby, as part of the arrangement.

From 2021 to 2024, the nonprofit spent upwards of $30,000 on hotels and singer Goapele’s performances at two events, including $5,000 for a 2023 book launch party for Davis. 

The city’s Human Rights Commission (HRC) also spent at least $6,000 on the firm Varner PR, along with other expenses, to further promote sales. 

Sheryl Davis (pictured), former director of San Francisco’s Human Rights Commission, allegedly arranged the sale of 1,500 copies of her book, ‘Free to Sing,’ to the city’s library

Pictured: An aerial shot of San Francisco, California

Davis’ book is about a young black girl’s passion for singing despite criticism from her sister

An earlier audit revealed that her department sent ‘more than 205 pounds’ of books to a New Orleans hotel for the Essence Festival of Culture, the biggest African-American music event in the country. 

Davis frequently relied on PJS Consultants, a communications and branding firm, to boost her author profile, according to the affidavit. 

The revelation comes after her Monday arrest, alongside James Spingola, executive of the nonprofit Collective Impact, who is also accused of helping facilitate the scheme, according to District Attorney Brooke Jenkins. 

An office press release accused Davis of directing more than $4.5 million in taxpayer funds from the Dream Keeper Initiative, a $120 million program launched under former Mayor London Breed after George Floyd’s 2020 police killing.

Her scheme allegedly began while she led the Dream program, during which she also earned a substantial $350,000 annual salary as head of the HRC. 

According to prosecutors, she directed millions to Collective Impact while hiding her financial interests and personal relationship with Spingola. 

Although she no longer held the position there, Davis – who previously served as executive director of Collective Impact – frequently split costs with the nonprofit to cover expenses such as restaurant buyouts and musical performances. 

‘She remained a signatory on the Collective Impact bank account, raised funds for the organization and helped steer its spending,’ the affidavit states.

Court records claim Davis made $100,000 in 2024 from book sales through her publisher, Book Baby, under the library deal

Davis is accused of spending $30,000 on hotels and a $5,000 performance from singer Goapele (pictured) for her 2023 book launch party

Oftentimes, Davis relied on a communications and branding firm to boost her author profile 

Beyond her book, the nonprofit allegedly spent large sums on other performers hired for HRC-related events, the court documents state.

The department allegedly splurged around $25,000 on rapper and producer D-Nice, more than $25,000 on singer Emily King’s fees and hotel and $5,000 on an honorarium for R&B artist Ledisi.

Another high-end expenditure included a $20,539 ‘banquet buyout event’ to feature journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones – best known for The 1619 Project – as well as a $5,000 buyout of International Smoke in October 2022, The Post reported.

The affidavit claimed that in 2023, the city department paid a $10,000 speaker fee to Sonya Curry, the mother of NBA player Steph Curry. 

Following the event, a $4,810.50 afterparty was held at International Smoke, a restaurant operated by Ayesha Curry, wife of the basketball champ, and acclaimed chef Michael Mina. 

While the event was titled Fierce Love & Joy, it was logged and billed as a ‘critical dialogue’ meant to create a ‘safe space for our young people,’ according to an Instagram post featuring Curry.

In another book deal, Davis allegedly directed the nonprofit to purchase an undisclosed number of copies of Fierce Love: A Memoir of Family, Faith and Purpose by Sonya Curry.

According to court documents, that expense – totaling $5,554.62 – was charged to the Department of Children, Youth and Their Families, a completely separate city department. 

Davis allegedly hosted a $4,810.50 afterparty at International Smoke (pictured), a restaurant operated by Ayesha Curry, wife of NBA star Steph Curry, and acclaimed chef Michael Mina (far right)

Davis allegedly directed the nonprofit to purchase an undisclosed number of copies of Sonya Curry’s memoir and charged more than $5,000 to a separate department

Davis spent more than $685,000 on sports tickets, venue rentals and airfare, and another $353,000 on restaurants and catering

‘Davis misappropriated City funds for her own personal use or the use of someone else,’ prosecutors concluded, according to the outlet.

‘For example, she paid thousands of dollars for galas and sponsorships of events unrelated to HRC and paid someone’s rent with HRC money,’ they added.

Davis, 57, now faces multiple felonies and two misdemeanors, including 13 counts of financial conflict of interest in government contracts, as well as charges of perjury, misuse of public funds, and accepting improper gifts. 

She was formally audited by city officials before her arrest, who ultimately found widespread misuse of public funds, including that $4.6 million of $6.3 million in payments were ineligible or likely improper.

Prosecutors said Spingola paid rent to Davis while she approved contracts that funded his salary. Property records revealed that she owns a San Francisco home valued at roughly $1.9 million, with three bedrooms and two and a half bathrooms. 

In another instance, she allegedly signed off on millions in funding to a nonprofit that paid her son nearly $140,000, with some of the money deposited into a joint account she shared with him.

Records show that her expenses also included $2.1 million for an ice rink rental, DJ, flowers, and catering, $267,000 for gala tickets and sponsorships and $60,000 for a Golden State Warriors’ Chase Center event. 

More than $685,000 went toward sports tickets, venue rentals and airfare, while another $353,000 was spent on restaurants and catering.

The funds were allegedly taken from the Dream Keeper Initiative, a $120 million program launched under former Mayor London Breed (both pictured) after George Floyd’s police killing

James Spingola (pictured), the former CEO of Collective Impact, was arrested alongside Davis for helping facilitate the scheme

Davis allegedly spent nearly $80,000 on a Martha’s Vineyard house rental and funded a ‘Queen’s Weekend Retreat’

Davis allegedly spent nearly $80,000 on a Martha’s Vineyard house rental, funded a ‘Queen’s Weekend Retreat,’ and approved weeks-long luxury hotel stays for a friend. 

Investigators further claimed that she routinely split invoices into amounts below $10,000 to evade financial oversight and circumvent municipal controls. 

The former nonprofit leader resigned in September 2024 after it was revealed that she lived with Spingola, amid growing scrutiny of her finances. 

It was later discovered that she used public money to promote herself, accepted a $5,500 painting that raised bribery concerns and was tied to a web of family-related conflicts. 

Both Davis and Spingola were booked and held on $50,000 bail. The Daily Mail has reached out for comment.