Pasadena Man, Former LA Deputy Mayor, Faces Sentencing for Fake Bomb Threat to L.A. City Hall

Brian K. Williams, a longtime Pasadena resident and former deputy mayor of Los Angeles, is scheduled to be sentenced Monday afternoon for falsely reporting a bomb threat to Los Angeles City Hall while serving in a top public safety role under Mayor Karen Bass.

Williams, 61, pleaded guilty in June to a single federal count of making “threats regarding fire and explosives.” The sentencing is set for 1:30 p.m. in Courtroom 850 of the Roybal Federal Building, 255 E. Temple St., in downtown Los Angeles.

According to Williams’ plea agreement, on Oct. 3, 2024, while serving as deputy mayor of public safety, he called the Los Angeles Police Department’s chief of staff and claimed he had received a threatening call on his city-issued phone from an unknown man. At 10:48 a.m., he sent a text message to Bass and senior 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.’ I immediately contacted the chief of staff of LAPD, they are going to send a number of officers over to do a search of the building and to determine if anyone else received a threat.”

Williams followed up with another message:

“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 (threat) a little more seriously. I will keep you posted.”

LAPD officers responded to City Hall and conducted a full search but found no suspicious items. Williams described the alleged call to police and showed them a record of an incoming call that appeared as a blocked number on his city-issued phone. Prosecutors later determined that the call was placed by Williams himself using his personal cell phone.

At no time did Williams intend to carry out the threat, according to his plea agreement filed in Los Angeles federal court.

Williams was placed on administrative leave when the FBI began its investigation and quietly retired from city government in April. He had joined Bass’ administration in March 2023, overseeing coordination with police, fire, airport security, and emergency services.

Prior to that appointment, Williams served for seven years as executive director of the Los Angeles County Sheriff Civilian Oversight Commission. He also previously served as a deputy mayor under Mayor James Hahn, where he was responsible for the management and oversight of the Department of Transportation, Public Works, and the Information Technology Agency.

“Mr. Williams, the former deputy mayor of public safety for Los Angeles, not only betrayed the residents of Los Angeles, but responding officers, and the integrity of the office itself, by fabricating a bomb threat,” said Akil Davis, assistant director in charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles bureau, in a statement issued when Williams pleaded guilty. “Government officials are held to a heightened standard as we rely on them to safeguard the city. I’m relieved that Mr. Williams has taken responsibility for his inexplicable actions.”