Former LA Deputy Mayor Sentenced for False Bomb Threat
In a surprising turn of events that highlights the intense pressures of public service and the unexpected consequences of poor decision-making, former Los Angeles deputy mayor of public safety Brian Williams has been sentenced for calling in a fake bomb threat to City Hall. The 61-year-old senior staffer to Mayor Karen Bass received one year of probation, 50 hours of community service, and a $5,000 fine in US District Court on Monday. The incident, which occurred in October 2024, stemmed from what his attorney described as a moment of desperation to escape a virtual meeting, compounded by previously “undiagnosed mental health challenges” for which Williams has since sought treatment.
The elaborate hoax began during a video conference when Williams used a Google Voice app on his personal phone to call his city-issued cellphone. After receiving this self-generated call, he abruptly left the virtual meeting and contacted the Chief of Staff of the Los Angeles Police Department, falsely claiming he had received a threat from an unknown caller who planned to bomb City Hall. Williams then escalated the situation by texting Mayor Bass and other high-ranking city officials, stating: “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. It might be in the rotunda.'” He added that he had already contacted LAPD, who would be sending officers to search the building.
What makes this case particularly troubling is Williams’ background in law enforcement oversight and his role as deputy mayor for public safety. In his follow-up messages to the mayor and other officials, he continued the deception, writing: “At this time, there is no need for us to evacuate the building. I’m meeting with the threat management officers within the next 10 minutes. In light of the Jewish holidays, we are taking this thread, a little more seriously. I will keep you posted.” The irony of a public safety official creating a false security threat was not lost on prosecutors, though they noted that Williams never actually intended to carry out any harmful acts, merely to fabricate the existence of a threat.
The truth unraveled quickly when responding officers determined the threat was not credible. Investigators discovered that the supposedly blocked incoming call to Williams’ city phone was actually one he had placed to himself. This digital trail led to Williams eventually pleading guilty in May to a single count of threats regarding fire and explosives – a charge that could have resulted in up to ten years in prison. The relatively lenient sentence reflects both the absence of any prior criminal history and consideration of the mental health factors that apparently contributed to this serious lapse in judgment.
According to prosecutors’ presentencing memo, Williams became “overwhelmed with stress and anxiety and desperate to get out of an ongoing meeting,” leading to his fabrication of the bomb threat. His attorney, Dmitry Gorin, has emphasized that Williams was suffering from undiagnosed mental health challenges at the time of the incident and has since undergone treatment. This explanation offers a glimpse into the intense pressures faced by high-level city officials, though it certainly doesn’t excuse the significant public resources wasted and the unnecessary alarm caused by the false report.
This case serves as a stark reminder of how even seasoned public officials can make profoundly poor decisions under stress, with consequences that extend far beyond their personal circumstances. Williams, with his extensive background in public safety, surely understood the seriousness of fabricating a bomb threat – particularly one with politically charged overtones suggesting anti-Israel sentiment. The incident raises important questions about mental health support for government officials in high-stress positions and the mechanisms in place to identify concerning behavior before it escalates to criminal activity. As Williams now faces the professional and personal aftermath of his actions, his case stands as a cautionary tale about the high cost of momentary desperation and the importance of finding appropriate ways to manage workplace stress and anxiety.
