Photo by Michael Starghill

The former chief of staff to former D.C. Councilmember Harry Thomas Jr. pleaded guilty today in federal court to charges that she falsified tax documents in connection with a 2009 inaugural ball.

Ayawna Webster admitted today in U.S. District Court that she was part of a group that funneled $110,000 in District money earmarked for a youth programs to pay for a “51st State Inaugural Ball” that brought a black-tie gala into the belly of the John A. Wilson Building the night President Obama was sworn into office. To pay for the fête, Webster pleaded guilty to directing a $104,500 grant from the Children and Youth Investment Trust Corporation to the D.C. Young Democrats, of which she was president, and not filing a tax return showing the grant.

Webster’s former boss resigned from the D.C. Council last year after admitting he stole $353,000 from the trust over a period of several years to lavish himself, including travel, clothing, and vehicles. He is currently serving a 38-month prison sentence.

Court documents filed Thursday by the office of U.S. Attorney Ron Machen state that while Thomas wanted to host the ball himself, Wilson Building rules prohibited him from doing so. The D.C. Young Democrats were able to, but did not have enough money to pay all the vendors who suppled the party. Documents state that on Jan. 29, 2009—nine days after the ball—Thomas ordered Webster to contact another staff member, who then submitted a grant request to the CYITC.

The trust provided the money and asked Webster to fill out a tax return for the grant, which was backdated to Jan. 4, court documents say. Not wanting to list an overtly political organization on an Internal Revenue Service form, Webster listed the non-existent “DC Young America” as the recipient.

The former head of the trust, Millicent West, pleaded guilty in February to her role in repurposing youth grant money to pay for the ball.

Webster, 36, is the sixth person to plead guilty in connection with the misappropriation of youth funds. Machen’s office say Webster and prosecutors have agreed on a sentence in the range of six months along with a fine between $1,000 and $10,000. She will be sentenced Nov. 1.