The former Los Angeles deputy mayor pleaded not guilty to a felony charge for reporting a false bomb threat to city hall last year.
Brian K. Williams, 61, of Pasadena, is charged with a single federal threat involving fires and explosives that could last up to 10 years, according to the U.S. Attorney General’s Office.
He is scheduled to turn a plea guilty in downtown Los Angeles on Friday.
According to his judicial agreement, while serving as Mayor Karen Bass’ public safety mayor on October 3, 2024, Williams called the Chief of Staff of the Los Angeles Police Department, claiming that he had just received a bomb threat to city hall from city hall and was threatened by an unknown man.
About ten minutes later, Williams texted Base and some high-ranking city authorities, saying, “Bomb Threat: I got a call on the city phone at 10:48am this morning. The male caller said, “He’s tired of Israeli city support and decided to put the bomb at city hall. I immediately contacted the LAPD Chief of Staff, they send many officers to
Do a search of the building and determine if anyone else has been threatened or not.”
Credit: Bill Robles
“At this point, there is no need to evacuate the buildings and meet with threat managers within the next 10 minutes. We’re taking this a little more seriously in light of the Jewish holidays,” Williams said.
LAPD officials responded to City Hall to investigate the threat reported by Williams. Police searched the building and found no suspicious packages or devices. Williams explained to police the threatening call he claimed he received, showing them a record of incoming calls displayed as blocked numbers on his city-issued mobile phone, saying it was an unknown man who conveyed the threat, a court paper shows.
In fact, the incoming call record was a call Williams placed himself from the Google Voice application on his personal mobile phone, federal prosecutors said.
Williams had no intention of carrying out the threat that his judicial agreement filed in the state of Los Angeles federal court.
Credit: Bill Robles
Williams quietly retired from the city government in April, and before that, he was placed on administrative leave when the FBI began investigating the threat of a bomb.
“Like many, we were shocked when these allegations were first made. We are saddened by this conclusion,” Bass spokesman Zach Seidl said last month.
Williams joined Bass’ office in March 2023. He was tasked with working closely with key safety departments such as police, fire department, Los Angeles World Airport Police and emergency situations. Prior to his appointment, Williams served as executive director of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Private Monitoring Board for seven years.
Williams previously served as deputy mayor under Mayor James Hearn, where he was responsible for managing and overseeing the Department of Transport, Public Works and Information Technology Agency.
“Williams, the Vice Mayor of Public Security in Los Angeles, not only betrayed Los Angeles residents, but also betrayed the integrity of the office itself by creating a bomb threat,” said Akil Davis, assistant director of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office.
“Government officials are bound by elevated standards as we rely on them to protect the city. I’m relieved that Williams is responsible for his inexplicable actions.”
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