Los Angeles Former Deputy Mayor Charged with Bomb Threat

A former deputy mayor of Los Angeles has pleaded guilty to reporting a bomb threat at city hall last year, as stated by federal prosecutors on Thursday.

Brian K. Williams, who took on the role of deputy mayor for public safety in October 2024, faces one felony charge related to making an explosive threat. This charge could lead to a prison sentence of up to ten years.

Williams’ legal team has not provided any comments on the situation as of yet.

On October 3, 2024, Williams claims he received a call from someone who had also contacted Mayor Karen Bass and other city officials, threatening to detonate a bomb at city hall. According to him, the caller expressed frustration with the city’s support for Israel and indicated that a bomb might be placed in the Rotunda.

Following the threat, Williams reported it to the Los Angeles Police Department.

However, law enforcement was unable to locate any suspicious packages or devices during their investigation, prosecutors noted.

Interestingly, Williams reportedly showed officers the mobile phones provided by the city, which he claimed were used by the individual who made the bomb threat. Yet, it turns out that the call was actually made by Williams himself using the Google Voice app on his personal phone, according to prosecutors.

In December 2024, the FBI conducted a search of Williams’ residence as part of the investigation into this incident, leading to his placement on administrative leave.

Williams is expected to appear in federal court in downtown Los Angeles in the near future.