A San Francisco Superior Court judge granted a continuance Tuesday for the former CEO of a nonprofit accused of stealing more than $1.2 million in public funds intended to help homeless and low-income residents. Gwendolyn Westbrook, 71, appeared in court for the first time since her arrest on nine felony charges related to her tenure at United Council for Human Services, a nonprofit that provided meals, housing and job training to vulnerable populations. Judge Simon J. Frankel set a new arraignment date of March 9 after Westbrook's attorney requested the delay.
Westbrook faces one count of misappropriation of public funds, three counts of grand theft, one count of presenting a false invoice for payment and four counts of filing false California tax returns. The charges stem from alleged criminal activity between 2019 and 2023, when prosecutors say she diverted public funds through unauthorized self-payments, improper cash withdrawals and fraudulent reimbursement practices.
San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins announced the charges Monday following an investigation by the District Attorney's Office Public Integrity Task Force. Prosecutors allege Westbrook stole an estimated $91,000 and misappropriated more than $1.2 million in public funds during her time leading the organization.
Westbrook was arrested Feb. 20 and appeared in court out of custody alongside Sylvia Nguyen of the San Francisco Public Defender's Office. She declined to comment as she left the courtroom. The San Francisco District Attorney's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
San Francisco Assistant District Attorney Warren Ko told the court the prosecution had prepared 45 pages of initial discovery materials, with an additional 40,000 pages expected to be produced. The substantial volume of evidence suggests prosecutors have conducted an extensive investigation into the nonprofit's financial practices.
United Council for Human Services grew from humble origins as "Mother Brown's Dining Room," which began when a local woman started cooking and delivering meals to homeless and low-income families in San Francisco's Bayview District. The organization later expanded its mission to include housing assistance and job training programs for homeless individuals.
Westbrook joined the organization in 2003, according to her LinkedIn profile. However, her tenure was marked by financial scrutiny. In 2009, San Francisco announced it would not contract directly with UCHS due to what officials described as "deficiencies in financial recordkeeping." Instead, the city required the organization to work through intermediary contractors.
The case represents the latest in a series of prosecutions targeting nonprofit executives who allegedly misused funds designated for public services. Such cases often involve complex financial records and require investigators to trace money flows through multiple accounts and transactions.
The charges against Westbrook highlight ongoing challenges in oversight of nonprofit organizations that receive significant public funding to serve vulnerable populations. The alleged misappropriation occurred during a period when San Francisco was grappling with a growing homelessness crisis and directing substantial resources toward service providers.
Prosecutors say additional large sums withdrawn from the organization's accounts remain unaccounted for, suggesting the investigation may continue to uncover additional financial irregularities. The Public Integrity Task Force's involvement indicates the District Attorney's Office views the case as part of broader efforts to combat public corruption.
The substantial amount of evidence prosecutors expect to produce suggests the case will likely involve detailed financial analysis of the nonprofit's books and banking records. Such white-collar prosecutions often require extensive document review and expert testimony to explain complex financial transactions to juries.
Westbrook's arraignment on March 9 will mark the formal beginning of criminal proceedings. She will be required to enter pleas to all nine felony counts at that time. If convicted on all charges, she could face significant prison time and restitution orders.
The case serves as a reminder of the importance of financial oversight and accountability in nonprofit organizations, particularly those receiving public funds to serve society's most vulnerable members. The alleged crimes occurred at an organization specifically created to help homeless individuals and low-income families, populations that rely heavily on such services for basic needs.