San Francisco prosecutors have charged Gwendolyn Westbrook, the former CEO of the United Council for Human Services (UCHS), accusing her of siphoning public money meant to support unhoused residents and using it for herself. She faces multiple felony counts tied to what authorities describe as a years-long pattern of financial misconduct. Westbrook was booked and later released and is expected to be arraigned tomorrow at the Hall of Justice.
DA Lays Out a Felony Rap Sheet
In a press release via the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office, District Attorney Brooke Jenkins said Westbrook is facing nine felony counts. Those include one count of misappropriation of public funds, three counts of grand theft, four counts of filing false California tax returns and one count of presenting a false invoice.
1/ SFDA @BrookeJenkinsSF announced today that Gwendolyn Westbrook, the former CEO of the UCHS, a nonprofit org serving homeless and low-income individuals, was charged w/ multiple felonies stemming from the alleged misuse & theft of public funds.RELEASE: https://t.co/K5piaenB6Q
— SF DISTRICT ATTORNEY (@SFDAOffice) February 23, 2026
Prosecutors allege the conduct stretched from 2019 through 2023 and involved unauthorized self-payments, improper cash withdrawals and what they describe as fraudulent reimbursement practices that diverted public funds for personal use.
Money Trail and Missing Cash
Westbrook is accused of misappropriating more than $1.2 million from UCHS accounts and stealing about $91,000, and prosecutors say “large sums” are still unaccounted for, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. The outlet reports that the money allegedly moved through a mix of withdrawals and self-issued payments that prosecutors say went toward personal expenses.
Audits, Oversight and an FBI Referral
The criminal case follows years of mounting scrutiny after a City Controller audit flagged serious problems at UCHS, according to reporting by the SF Standard. That audit identified issues, including undocumented charges and eligibility problems, which pushed the Bayview nonprofit under heightened oversight. City officials eventually alerted both federal and local investigators, prompting a referral to the FBI.
City Contracts and Services on the Line
In the wake of the audit, city officials moved to cut UCHS out of millions of dollars in contracts for shelter and housing programs, according to The Real Deal. Advocates have warned that criminal proceedings and contract shake-ups could send further shockwaves through Bayview services that rely heavily on nonprofit providers to keep vulnerable residents housed and sheltered.
What Happens Next and How to Share Tips
Westbrook is scheduled to be arraigned Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. at the Hall of Justice in San Francisco on case number 26004009, the DA’s office said in its release. The office’s public integrity task force is seeking tips from anyone with information and has set a dedicated line at 628-652-4444, according to the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office…