The leader of a city-funded nonprofit in San Francisco is accused of diverting millions intended for the homeless to support her opulent lifestyle, according to prosecutors. This case involves Gwendolyn Westbrook, 71, who previously led the United Council of Human Services (UCHS). She now faces nine felony charges, which include misappropriation of public funds, grand theft, and submitting false tax returns, as revealed by the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office on Monday.
From 2019 to 2023, Westbrook allegedly redirected over $1.2 million of public and grant money from the nonprofit’s coffers. Authorities claim she exercised nearly complete financial control over the organization during this period, facilitating the unauthorized transfers.
The legal accusations against her comprise a single count of misappropriating public funds, three counts of grand theft, one count of issuing a fraudulent invoice, and four counts of filing inaccurate state tax returns for the years 2020 through 2023.
In a previous meeting with San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee, Gwendolyn Westbrook, then the director of the United Council of Human Services, was seen smiling as she guided him through the organization’s facilities. (Carlos Avila Gonzalez/The San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)
According to local news sources drawing from court documents, investigators claim that the misused nonprofit funds were spent on extravagant items, including purchases from luxury retailers such as Louis Vuitton and Neiman Marcus, and included high-end goods and vehicles.
Local media outlets, citing court filings, have reported that investigators allege nonprofit funds were used for high-end purchases from retailers like Louis Vuitton and Neiman Marcus, including luxury goods and vehicles.
The case was brought following an investigation by the District Attorney’s Public Integrity Task Force.
District Attorney Brooke Jenkins said the alleged scheme deprived the city of critical resources intended to address its ongoing homelessness crisis.
“You’re talking about millions of dollars being lost to that effort — our taxpayer dollars — while every day we deal with people who are still struggling on our streets,” Jenkins said at a news conference.
According to prosecutors, more than $1.2 million has been traced directly to Westbrook, while additional withdrawn funds remain unaccounted for.
Homeless people in San Francisco, California, on February 26, 2024. (Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Westbrook did not immediately respond to requests for comment, and it was not immediately clear whether she has an attorney.
UCHS has received millions of dollars in city contracts over the years to serve homeless and low-income residents. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the organization operated a 120-trailer shelter site at Pier 94 in Hunters Point.
In a prior interview with NBC Bay Area, Westbrook defended the shelter effort, saying, “This is giving them a fighting chance at a better life.” The site later shut down amid concerns about dust exposure from a nearby concrete recycling facility.
People inhabit encampments on the streets of San Francisco, California on Saturday, April 15, 2023. (Flight Risk for Fox News Digital)
The San Francisco Chronicle reported that the case follows years of scrutiny involving Westbrook and the nonprofit. According to the outlet, she was accused in 1997 of taking thousands of dollars from a cash box at a San Francisco Port parking lot where she worked. In 2015, regulators discovered unsanctioned blackjack tables operating inside a charity bingo hall run by the nonprofit, the Chronicle reported.
The charges come as homelessness spending in California faces heightened scrutiny. In Los Angeles, the head of another homeless services nonprofit was recently charged at both the federal and state level with allegedly misusing $23 million in taxpayer funds to finance luxury properties and vehicles.
Stepheny Price covers crime, including missing persons, homicides and migrant crime. Send story tips to stepheny.price@fox.com.
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