FBI special agent stole nearly $10,000 in cash from homes he searched in Texas, feds say
A former FBI agent has pleaded guilty to stealing money and property from homes while executing search warrants, Texas officials said.
Nicholas Anthony Williams, 37, of Houston “admitted to theft of personal property and providing false statements” while in his official capacity, according to a Sept. 23 news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas.
“Mr. Williams deeply regrets his actions and the impact of his actions on federal law enforcement,” Williams’ attorney, Erin Epley, told McClatchy News in a statement Sept. 24. “He will continue to assist law enforcement relative to any requests they have of him regarding these matters.”
Williams stole nearly $10,000 in cash between March 2022 and July 2023, keeping the money for personal use, including to buy guns and gun parts, officials said.
Williams also stole FBI property and pawned it for cash, according to officials.
Court records show Williams made purchases on his government-issued credit card and falsified documents to make it look like those charges were “case-related expenses.”
“Founded on a legacy of steadfast duty since 1908, FBI agents uphold society’s trust by relentlessly pursuing justice and protecting citizens with unwavering integrity,” U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani said in the release.
“Nicholas Williams betrayed that legacy and the community’s trust when he decided to pad his own pockets at the expense of a citizen’s rights,” Hamdani said.
Williams began working as an FBI special agent in the Houston field office in 2019, serving on the criminal violent gang and counter-terrorism task forces, according to officials.
Williams will be sentenced Jan. 13, according to prosecutors. He faces up to 10 years in federal prison and a maximum fine of $250,000, officials said.
This story was originally published September 24, 2024 at 5:52 PM with the headline "FBI special agent stole nearly $10,000 in cash from homes he searched in Texas, feds say."
