A Georgia conman is accused of fraudulently marrying Steve Harvey’s radio co-host Shirley Strawberry and using her notoriety to scam more than $750,000 from at least 25 victims.
Ernest Williams, 57, also known as “Nest,” was indicted on 39 counts of fraud by a Fulton County grand jury on April 23. Court Documents.
“From at least Dec. 1, 2009 through June 30, 2022, Ernest Williams engaged in a series of fraudulent schemes in Fulton County, Georgia, other parts of Georgia, and other states,” documents filed in Fulton Superior Court state.
Williams, who posed as a wealthy businessman, allegedly stole hundreds of thousands of dollars from his victims, including “personal vehicles, motorcycles, motorbikes, trailers, auto parts and various other services and property.”
The serial fraudster allegedly defrauded his victims, mostly women, by promising them he would “help” them “set up new businesses, promote existing businesses and build their brand and image”.
“He was posing as a legitimate businessman, but he was stealing from people,” Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis said. WSB Television On Thursday.
The document says the historic conspirator “manipulated and stole from his victims, often using the illusion of romantic or intimate personal relationships with them.”
Williams’ talent for con was further enhanced by his marriage to “Steve Harvey Morning Show” co-host Shirley Strawberry.
According to the documents, the defendant “knowingly entered into a false marriage with Shirley Strawberry” and used her “publicity status” to mislead his victims into believing he had legitimacy as a prominent businesswoman.
Strawberry, 63, married Williams in January 2015.
But Williams’ marriage to Strawberry was a ruse from the beginning.
“We believe she met a man, fell in love and married him, but the truth is that he was already married to someone else at the time,” Willis told the outlet.
The popular radio host filed for divorce on April 17, court records show. show The two had been living separately since March 2022.
Williams recruited “multiple co-conspirators” in his search for victims for the plot that spanned more than a decade, the most notorious of whom was Erica King (aka Erica Hughley, or Erica Hughley Rothschild).
Williams allegedly “requested King to misrepresent himself as multiple attorneys licensed to practice law in Georgia and to deceive law enforcement and the courts, including by falsely representing Williams in court appearances and at hearings.”
King, 46, is named as a co-conspirator in 19 of the 39-count indictment against Williams.
Williams and King were arrested in October 2023 after Roswell police became aware of their plans.
Willis spoke to the outlet about the grand jury’s decision to indict Williams under Georgia’s anti-gang and corrupt organizations laws.
Williams’ public defender, Shawn Huber, filed the plea agreement for Williams on April 26, according to court records.
A plea bargain hearing was scheduled for Wednesday, but the court did not say whether a decision had been made.
Five of Williams’ fraud charges involve amounts exceeding $24,999 and carry a prison sentence of two to 20 years if convicted.
The remaining 10 charges involve less than $25,000 and are punishable by one to 10 years in prison.
If convicted of submitting a false marriage license in Georgia, Williams could face one to 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
He is currently being held in the Cobb County Jail, with his next court appearance scheduled.
