Former LA Deputy Mayor Sentenced Over False Bomb Threat

Former Los Angeles Deputy Mayor Brian K. Williams, 61, was sentenced Monday to one year of federal probation, 50 hours of community service and a $5,000 fine after pleading guilty in June to a federal count of making threats regarding fire and explosives for falsely reporting a bomb threat at City Hall. Prosecutors say that on Oct. 3, 2024, Williams used Google Voice to call his city-issued phone, then called the LAPD and texted city officials claiming a caller had threatened to place a bomb over the city's support of Israel, prompting an evacuation and an explosives search that found no device. Authorities and defense counsel said the hoax was not politically motivated but stemmed from acute stress, anxiety and undiagnosed mental-health challenges; Williams told the judge he had suffered recent family deaths and other personal crises and was desperate to get out of a meeting. He was placed on administrative leave and his home was searched by the FBI during the investigation; although he faced a potential statutory maximum of up to 10 years in prison, he received probation and remains eligible for a city pension despite the conviction. Williams must complete the court-ordered community service and pay the $5,000 fine during his probationary year.