A former senior member of Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass’ workers has struck a plea cope with federal prosecutors, admitting he referred to as in a faux bomb menace to Metropolis Corridor late final yr that was blamed on anti-Israel sentiment, federal prosecutors introduced on Thursday.
Beneath the phrases of the plea settlement, Brian Williams, a longtime regulation enforcement oversight official who served as Bass’ deputy mayor of public security, agreed to plead responsible to a single depend of threats relating to hearth and explosives, which carries a most jail sentence of 10 years. He’s anticipated to make his preliminary court docket look within the subsequent few weeks.
“In an period of heated political rhetoric that has generally escalated into violence, we can’t enable public officers to make bomb threats,” U.S. Atty. Invoice Essayli mentioned in a information launch saying the deal. “My workplace will proceed its efforts to maintain the general public protected, together with from those that violate their obligation to uphold the regulation.”
No motive for Williams’ actions has been given.
Williams was taking part in a digital assembly at Metropolis Corridor on Oct. 3, 2024, when he used the Google Voice utility on his private telephone to position a name to his city-issued mobile phone, in response to the plea settlement.
Williams admitted he left the assembly and referred to as Scott Harrelson, a high aide to the LAPD chief. In accordance with the plea, Williams falsely acknowledged that he had simply acquired a name on his city-issued mobile phone from an unknown male caller who made a bomb menace towards Metropolis Corridor.
At no time did Williams intend to hold out the menace, in response to the plea settlement.
About 10 minutes after calling the LAPD, in response to the plea, Williams texted Bass and a number of other different senior mayoral officers a message that learn: “Bomb menace: I acquired telephone name on my metropolis cell at 10:48 am this morning. The male caller acknowledged that ‘he was bored with town help of Israel, and he has determined to position a bomb in Metropolis Corridor. It may be within the rotunda.’ I instantly contacted the chief of workers of LAPD, they’ll ship plenty of officers over to do a search of the constructing and to find out if anybody else acquired a menace.”
Quickly after, LAPD officers searched the constructing and didn’t find any suspicious packages or units, in response to the settlement. Williams informed the officers {that a} man referred to as and mentioned: “I’m bored with town help of Israel, I’ve determined to position a bomb in Metropolis Corridor. It may be within the Rotunda.”
Williams confirmed the officers the file of an incoming name, which appeared as a blocked quantity on his city-issued telephone. In accordance with the plea deal, that decision was the one Williams had positioned from Google Voice.
Williams adopted up with the mayor and different high-ranking officers a while later with a number of different texts, saying that there was no have to evacuate Metropolis Corridor.
“I’m assembly with the menace administration officers inside the subsequent 10 minutes. In mild of the Jewish holidays, we’re taking this thread, a bit of extra significantly. I’ll maintain you posted,” the textual content learn, in response to federal authorities.
Federal authorities revealed they have been trying into Williams final December, when FBI brokers raided his residence in Pasadena. It despatched shock waves by Metropolis Corridor and the Police Division, the place many expressed incredulity on the prospect of a revered authorities official faking a bomb menace.
Earlier than the case was turned over to the FBI, detectives from the LAPD’s Main Crimes Division performed surveillance that led them to conclude that Williams was liable for the bomb menace, sources beforehand informed The Instances.
Williams, who was the deputy mayor overseeing the police and hearth departments, was on depart due to the prison investigation in January when Pacific Palisades was engulfed in flames, killing 12 folks and destroying greater than 6,000 constructions.
“Like many, we have been shocked when these allegations have been first made and we’re saddened by this conclusion,” mentioned Zach Seidl, a spokesperson for Bass.
Williams has held a wide range of authorities positions spanning greater than three many years. He had spent practically two years as a deputy mayor in Bass’ workplace, engaged on points comparable to police hiring, public security spending and the seek for a brand new police chief.
Beforehand, Williams was a deputy mayor within the administration of Mayor James Ok. Hahn, who held workplace from 2001 to 2005. Earlier than that, he spent a number of years as an assistant metropolis lawyer in Los Angeles.
From 2016 to 2023, Williams was the chief director of the Sheriff’s Civilian Oversight Fee, in response to his LinkedIn web page.
Working in Bass’ workplace, Williams oversaw the Police Division, the Fireplace Division, Port Police, Airport Police and town’s emergency administration company, in response to his hiring announcement. He was additionally a member of the mayor’s internal circle, enjoying a key position within the monthslong seek for a brand new police chief that ended with the hiring of Jim McDonnell.
When Dist. Atty. Nathan Hochman was sworn in final yr, Williams was town official chosen to handle the viewers on behalf of the mayor.
Akil Davis, the assistant director accountable for the FBI’s Los Angeles subject workplace, mentioned in a press release that Williams “not solely betrayed the residents of Los Angeles, however responding officers, and the integrity of the workplace itself, by fabricating a bomb menace.”
“Authorities officers are held to a heightened commonplace as we depend on them to safeguard town,” the assertion learn. “I’m relieved that Mr. Williams has taken accountability for his inexplicable actions.”
