Former Los Angeles Deputy Mayor Pleads Guilty to Fabricating Anti-Israel Bomb Threat Against City Hall

LOS ANGELES — Brian K. Williams, a former Los Angeles deputy mayor of public safety, has agreed to plead guilty to a federal felony charge for falsely reporting a bomb threat against City Hall in October 2024, which he attributed to anti-Israel sentiment, federal prosecutors announced Thursday. The plea deal, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, marks a stunning fall for a veteran public servant with over three decades of government service.

According to the plea agreement, on October 3, 2024, while participating in a virtual meeting in his official capacity, Williams, 61, of Pasadena, used the Google Voice application on his personal cellphone to place a call to his city-issued phone, creating the appearance of an incoming call from an unknown number. He then left the meeting to contact Scott Harrelson, a top aide to the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) chief, falsely claiming he had received a call from an unidentified man threatening to bomb City Hall. Williams reported the alleged caller stated, “he was tired of the city support of Israel, and he has decided to place a bomb in City Hall. It might be in the rotunda,” according to court documents.

Approximately 10 minutes later, Williams sent a text message to Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and several high-ranking city officials, reiterating the fabricated threat. He wrote, “Bomb threat: I received phone call on my city cell at 10:48 am this morning. The male caller stated that ‘he was tired of the city support of Israel, and he has decided to place a bomb in City Hall.’” He added that he had notified the LAPD, prompting officers to search the building. No suspicious devices or packages were found.

Williams further misled authorities by showing LAPD officers a call log on his city-issued phone displaying a blocked number, which he claimed was from the threatening caller. In reality, the call originated from his own Google Voice account. In follow-up texts to Mayor Bass and other officials, Williams stated there was no need to evacuate City Hall and claimed he was meeting with threat management officers, noting, “In light of the Jewish holidays, we are taking this threat a little more seriously.”

The incident, which occurred the day after Yom Kippur, triggered an investigation by the LAPD’s Major Crimes Division, which identified Williams as the likely source of the threat. The case was subsequently referred to the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force. In December 2024, FBI agents searched Williams’ Pasadena home, and he was placed on administrative leave by Mayor Bass’ office.

Williams has agreed to plead guilty to one count of making threats regarding fire and explosives, a felony carrying a maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison. He is expected to make his initial court appearance in the coming weeks, with sentencing to follow. While prosecutors noted that Williams had no intention of carrying out the threat, his actions were condemned as a serious breach of public trust.

“In an era of heated political rhetoric that has sometimes escalated into violence, we cannot allow public officials to make bomb threats,” said U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli in a statement. “My office will continue its efforts to keep the public safe, including from those who violate their duty to uphold the law.” Akil Davis, assistant director in charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office, added, “Mr. Williams not only betrayed the residents of Los Angeles, but responding officers, and the integrity of the office itself, by fabricating a bomb threat.”

Williams’ attorney, Dmitry Goren, described the incident as an “aberrational” act unrepresentative of his client’s character, emphasizing Williams’ long career as a public servant and his acceptance of responsibility through the plea agreement.

Williams served nearly two years as deputy mayor of public safety under Mayor Bass, overseeing critical issues such as police hiring, public safety spending, and the search for a new LAPD chief. A UCLA School of Law graduate, he previously held roles as deputy mayor under Mayor James K. Hahn (2001–2005), assistant city attorney, and executive director of the Sheriff’s Civilian Oversight Commission from 2016 to 2023. His extensive tenure made the allegations particularly shocking to colleagues and city officials.

Zach Seidl, a spokesman for Mayor Bass, expressed disappointment, stating, “Like many, we were shocked when these allegations were first made and we are saddened by this conclusion.” Bass appointed Robert Clark, a former FBI official, to replace Williams in April 2025.

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