A former FBI agent has admitted to stealing personal property while conducting search warrants related to January 6 defendants, raising questions about corruption within the federal agency. Nicholas Anthony Williams, 37, from Houston, Texas, confessed to stealing nearly $10,000 in cash and silver bars from multiple residences during raids from March 2022 to July 2023.
Williams, a special agent assigned to both the criminal violent gang and counterterrorism squads in the FBI’s Houston office since 2019, exploited his official position to take valuable items, according to court documents. The plea agreement revealed that Williams used the stolen money for personal purchases, including firearms, and attempted to sell the stolen silver bars to others.
In addition to theft, Williams admitted to making false statements about fraudulent charges on his government-issued credit card, claiming they were legitimate case-related expenses. He also pawned FBI-owned property for personal gain.
The Department of Justice’s Office of Inspector General led the investigation into Williams’ misconduct, which culminated in his guilty plea. He now faces a maximum sentence of up to 10 years in federal prison, along with a potential $250,000 fine. His sentencing is scheduled for January 13, 2025, before U.S. District Judge Andrew Hanen.
“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,” said U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. “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. Because no one is above the law, the system of justice that he once swore to protect will now seek to hold him to account for breaking that oath.” While Williams remains out on bond pending sentencing, his actions have drawn widespread condemnation, particularly given the sensitive nature of his involvement in cases related to the January 6 Capitol breach.
On July 13, 2023, Williams conducted a raid on the home of Alexander Fan, a member of the group Asians for Trump who was involved in the Capitol breach protesting the confirmation of Joe Biden’s election. During this raid, Williams illegally confiscated $2,729 in cash along with several silver bars, attempting to sell them later according to The Washington Times.
Additionally, Williams is connected to thefts from other raids, including $1,200 on December 16, 2020; $4,145 on March 15, 2022; and $1,574 on January 12, 2023. The last theft, from Fan’s residence, ultimately contributed to Williams’ exposure and later arrest. He also misused his FBI-issued credit card to purchase three cell phones, which he later pawned for a fraction of their cost, misappropriating $899.97 of taxpayer funds and deceiving the FBI by claiming these were legitimate case-related expenses.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Laura Garcia and Sarina DiPiazza are prosecuting the case, as the Justice Department works to hold Williams accountable for his violations of public trust.
Since the January 6, 2021, Capitol breach, authorities have arrested more than 1,100 individuals across the country in connection with the breach. These arrests, part of one of the largest federal investigations in U.S. history, have involved suspects facing a wide range of charges, from minor offenses like trespassing to more serious accusations such as assaulting police officers, property damage, and conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding.
