Former San Francisco Human Rights Commission Dir. Sheryl Davis Charged with Multiple Felonies in Public Funds Misappropriation Case

San Francisco, CA - Sheryl Davis, the former executive director of the San Francisco Human Rights Commission (HRC), was arrested and charged Monday with 17 felonies and two misdemeanors related to alleged financial conflicts of interest and misappropriation of public funds.

Davis, 57, and James Spingola (also spelled Spignola in some reports), 65, the former executive director of the nonprofit Collective Impact, were booked into county jail around 10 a.m. on March 30, 2026. Both were held on $50,000 bail.

According to the San Francisco District Attorney's Office, an 18-month investigation by the Public Integrity Unit, which included more than 50 search warrants, uncovered a pattern of self-dealing. Davis allegedly directed more than $4.5 million in funds from the Dream Keeper Initiative - a program aimed at supporting Black communities in San Francisco - to Collective Impact, a nonprofit she had previously led and with which she maintained significant ties.

Charges against Davis include:13 felony counts of having a financial conflict of interest in a government contract (California Government Code §1090(a))

1 felony count of misappropriating public funds (California Penal Code §424(a))

3 felony counts of perjury (Penal Code §118)

1 misdemeanor count of receiving gifts from a restricted source (San Francisco Campaign and Governmental Conduct Code §3.216(b))

1 misdemeanor count of having a financial conflict of interest in a government decision (San Francisco Campaign and Governmental Conduct Code §3.206)

Prosecutors allege Davis steered city contracts worth millions - variously reported as over $8.5 million in some summaries - to organizations she was affiliated with, while failing to disclose her close personal and financial relationship with Spingola, including living together and sharing finances. The investigation also examined her role in approving funds that benefited entities linked to her, such as payments involving her son and personal expenses.

Spingola faces four felony counts of aiding and abetting Davis's alleged conflicts of interest in government contracts.

The case centers on the Dream Keeper Initiative, launched under then-Mayor London Breed to address disparities in Black communities following the 2020 murder of George Floyd. City audits later found millions in questionable or ineligible spending under Davis's leadership at the HRC, including non-contract payments that violated city rules. Davis resigned in 2024 amid the emerging scandal; she had been fired or forced out earlier reports vary slightly, but her departure followed whistleblower complaints and media revelations about undisclosed relationships and spending, such as a luxury rental on Martha's Vineyard.

District Attorney Brooke Jenkins stated that the probe revealed "a pervasive pattern of self-dealing" by Davis while she oversaw distribution of tens of millions in city funds. Some reports note that the criminal charges specifically tie to roughly $350,000 in directly misappropriated funds, though broader audits identified over $4 million in problematic spending during her tenure.

Davis and Spingola have previously denied intentional wrongdoing, with Davis describing failures to disclose relationships or spending as mistakes. Defense attorneys have not yet issued detailed public responses to the new criminal charges.

The case highlights ongoing scrutiny of San Francisco's handling of public funds, particularly in equity-focused programs. No charges have been filed against other city officials, including former Mayor Breed, and the investigation focused on Davis's actions as department head.This remains an active criminal case; both individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.