Dana McDaniel, a former top official in Washington D.C., pleaded guilty to bribery charges on Friday. McDaniel, who served as Deputy for the Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement (ONSE) from January 2020 until April 2023, was indicted in February. The indictment revealed that between September 2022 and August 2024, McDaniel accepted at least $10,000 in cash bribes in exchange for steering government contracts and grants toward businesses linked to a cooperating witness.
In her role at ONSE, McDaniel oversaw various community programs, including the Violence Intervention (VI) Initiative, aimed at curbing violence in the District by providing resources and support to at-risk individuals.
At the courthouse on Friday, McDaniel pleaded guilty to one count of bribery. The plea was announced by U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr., FBI Special Agent in Charge Sean Ryan, IRS Criminal Investigations Special Agent Darrell Waldon, and District of Columbia Inspector General Daniel W. Lucas.
McDaniel now faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison. U.S. District Court Judge Rudolph Contreras scheduled her sentencing for August 6, 2025.
