Former LA deputy mayor plans to admit to creating a false bomb threat at City Hall

Former Deputy Mayor Pleads Guilty to Bomb Threat

A former aide to Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, who held the position of deputy mayor for public security, has agreed to plead guilty to making a bomb threat against city halls last year, according to the Justice Department’s announcement on Thursday.

Brian Williams, 61, from Pasadena, has accepted a plea deal for a single count related to “information with threats about fires and explosives,” which could lead to a prison sentence of up to ten years.

Bill Essay, an attorney, stated, “In an era where political discourse has escalated to violence, civil servants cannot make bomb threats.” He further emphasized his office’s commitment to ensuring community safety, including holding accountable those who violate the law.

The threat in question occurred during a virtual meeting on October 3, 2024, involving Williams and others concerning his responsibilities. Using the Google Voice app, he called his city-issued phone from his personal phone.

After disconnecting from the meeting, he contacted the Chief of Staff of the LAPD, mistakenly claiming he had just received a threatening call on his city phone about a bombing at Los Angeles City Hall.

About ten minutes later, Williams texted Mayor Bass and several senior officials, stating there was a bomb threat from a caller who expressed discontent with city support for Israel. He claimed he had reached out to the LAPD Chief of Staff and that officers would be dispatched to investigate.

However, investigators found that Williams had fabricated the entire threat and had not received any calls as he had claimed. Prosecutors noted that he never actually intended to carry out the threat.

The LAPD responded robustly, conducting a search at City Hall, but ultimately found nothing suspicious.

It turned out that the call records Williams provided to the police were misleading. The incoming call was traced back to himself, initiated through the Google Voice app from his personal mobile device.

In his communications with Bass and other officials, he maintained a composed stance, indicating no need for an evacuation and planned to meet with a threat management officer shortly thereafter. He mentioned the heightened seriousness of the threat given the timing of Jewish holidays.

Williams, in his role as deputy mayor for Public Security, not only let down the residents of Los Angeles but also undermined the credibility of his office, according to prosecutors. They stressed that government officials are held to higher standards because they are entrusted with the protection of the city.