THIS WEEK AT THE VOICE FOR THURSDAY, AUGUST 14, 2025
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by Mike Ege
Editor in Chief, The Voice of San Francisco
NO HOME ON THE RANGE: Newly uncovered Texas court records suggest District 10 Supervisor Shamann Walton and his ex-wife were victims of identity theft — possibly by a notorious figure from San Francisco’s criminal past.
In 2024, a house in Houston’s gated Edinburgh Estates was rented in the names of Walton and ex-wife Talmesha Nicole Walton. The lease began in April, but tenants allegedly stopped paying rent by September. The owner sued, then dropped the case.
Walton told The Voice he’d never rented a house in Houston, and based on a deeper look at the documents, that seems likely. But he’s since gone on his Instagram to vent about our inquiry, and alleges the documents we showed him are fake — but they’re quite genuine and can be reviewed at the Harris County website, linked above. And it is our job to look into things, after all.
News of the rental could have had possible residency issues for Walton, who has come under scrutiny before for owning a home in Vallejo while serving as a San Francisco supervisor.
But a review of court filings showed inconsistencies: the couple had divorced a year earlier, children’s names didn’t match, and a phone number in the documents belongs to a Marvin Jeffery who apparently runs a credit repair service in Frisco, Tex., and has the same name as a Bayview resident who was arrested in 2004 for running an identity theft ring in San Francisco, and later became a police informant in the infamous Isaac Espinoza murder case.
Jeffery reportedly continued committing crimes while cooperating with authorities and may have supplied the weapon used in Espinoza’s killing — a case that became a political flashpoint for then District Attorney Kamala Harris.
Coincidence, or an inside practical joke with dark roots? This story is still developing.
Susan Dyer Reynolds contributed to this article.
EPSTEIN CONNECTION: An avid reader tipped The Voice to a local link in the Jeffrey Epstein saga: Convicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell’s older sister Isabel Maxwell lives in Sausalito, in a three-bedroom house just blocks from the Pelican yacht harbor.
When Ghislaine Maxwell was moved from a Florida high-security cell to a low-security Texas prison camp, one perk was proximity to family. Sister Christine Maxwell has an apartment in Dallas, which has also served as a base for Christine’s twin sister Isabel, according to the Daily Beast.
Wikipedia notes Isabel cofounded the Magellan search engine company, worked in film and tech, and was active in Israeli policy nonprofits. She now serves as an officer for the largely dormant Globalsolver Foundation — a holdover from her relationship with alleged con artist Al Seckel, whose life and death carried eerie parallels to both Epstein and the sisters’ father, infamous British publishing magnate Robert Maxwell. Isabel Maxwell’s marriage to Seckel left her bankrupt, but she appears to have recovered.
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Top News
REYNOLDS RAP
I spent a year investigating former S.F. Public Utilities Commission manager Harlan Kelly
Part 1: Kelly’s association with disgraced contractor Walter Wong is only one reason the former SFPUC boss should never get his pension back. Part 2 explores another reason.
by Susan Dyer Reynolds
“Every time a bell rings, an angel gets his wings!” A friend with a wry sense of humor once quoted that famous line from the 1946 Christmas classic It’s a Wonderful Life. We were watching the news about the arrest of longtime City Family member Dwayne Jones. “What brought that up?” I asked. “Well,” he said, “in your case it’s more like ‘every time you write a column an official goes to jail.’”
ASIAN VOICES
I grew up stocking shelves in my family’s corner store. Now I Lead San Francisco’s Police Union.
Louis Wong is the first Asian American to lead the police union.
by Louis Wong
TRANSPORTATION
San Mateo, Santa Clara join regional Bay Area transit funding measure
Transit boards back a regional 2026 sales tax measure under SB 63 to fund Bay Area transit.
by Jerold Chinn
Quote of the week
“If there isn’t a better solution, cars are the next best answer.”
— Civic impressario Manny Yekutiel discussing some rather extraordinary options for revamping Market Street, in ‘Market Street Reimagined’ contest draws over 100 entries‘
Nomi toon
In Case You Missed It
DOWNTOWN RECOVERY
‘Market Street Reimagined’ contest draws over 100 entries
Proposals range from funiculars to forests, but none cure business and commute woes.
by Erica Sandberg
ASIAN VOICES
Remembering Michelle Go
Michelle Go’s murder has had a profound impact on her family. “Five years ago, I never would have thought any of this could happen,” her father said.
by Alastair Budd
TRANSPORTATION
Muni to restore, add morning peak downtown express trips to downtown
Starting Sept. 2; includes the return of two morning bus trips on the 1X-California Express route.
by Jerold Chinn
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EVENTS
Out and about Aug. 14–20, 2025
What to do this weekend and beyond
By Lynette Majer
Managing Editor, The Voice of San Francisco
We have music, music, music this weekend, some instrumental and some with voices, both indoors and outdoors, and one with dancing. Plus some block parties, a political lecture, a notable art exhibition of a hometown artist in its final weeks, an outdoor film with another beloved artist, and more. Read on for my picks.
Thursday, Aug. 14
Tickets for blues legend and five-time Grammy winner Taj Mahal at S.F. Jazz are almost sold out, so get to it if you’re a fan. Through Sunday. Tickets from $40.
Go Swing in the Sky at Salesforce Park to live music by The Hot Baked Goods, who look like a lot of fun. Music starts at 5:30, but arrive early for a dance lesson. Free!
Friday, Aug. 15
Join the fun and community spirit at the Castro Night Market featuring live entertainment, food vendors, and more. Every third Friday through October. Free, RSVP here.day. Tickets from $49.
Listen to our podcasts
- Best of John Rothmann: A spectacular interview with Editor-In-Chief Mike Ege
- Best of John Rothmann: “Why I walked out of my daughter’s college graduation” Author Erin Gordon with John Rothmann
- More on the District 4 recall with Julia Quon
- Best of John Rothmann, with Amanda Fried on Ethnic Studies in San Francisco
- Plus more (and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music/Audible or everywhere else you get your favorite podcasts)
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