A former FBI agent, Nicholas Anthony Williams, has admitted to stealing personal property while executing search warrants related to January 6 defendants, casting a shadow on the integrity of the federal agency. The 37-year-old from Houston, Texas, confessed to stealing nearly $10,000 in cash and silver bars from homes during raids conducted between March 2022 and July 2023. Williams’ misconduct, outlined in a plea agreement, highlights a troubling abuse of power by a trusted federal officer.
Williams, who had been a special agent in the FBI’s Houston office since 2019, worked on both the criminal violent gang and counterterrorism squads. He used his position to take valuable items, including cash and silver bars, during raids. According to court documents, Williams didn’t just pocket the stolen items—he used the money for personal purchases, including firearms, and tried to sell the silver bars.
In addition to theft, Williams admitted to making false statements about fraudulent charges on his government-issued credit card, claiming they were legitimate expenses tied to his investigations. He even went so far as to pawn FBI-owned property for personal profit, deepening the scope of his betrayal. The Department of Justice’s Office of Inspector General led the investigation that uncovered his illegal activities, resulting in his guilty plea.
Williams faces up to 10 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine. His sentencing is set for January 13, 2025, before U.S. District Judge Andrew Hanen. While Williams is currently out on bond awaiting sentencing, his actions have drawn intense criticism, particularly because of his role in cases tied to the January 6 Capitol breach—an event already fraught with controversy and public attention.
“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 in a statement.
“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 underscored that the justice system, which Williams once served, would now hold him accountable for his violations of public trust.
One of the key incidents in Williams’ criminal activity took place on July 13, 2023, when he conducted a raid on the home of Alexander Fan, a member of the group “Asians for Trump” who was involved in the Capitol breach. During the raid, Williams illegally seized $2,729 in cash along with silver bars, later attempting to sell the stolen items. This raid, in particular, played a critical role in exposing Williams’ misconduct, leading to his arrest.
Williams was also linked to thefts during other raids. On December 16, 2020, he stole $1,200, followed by a theft of $4,145 on March 15, 2022, and $1,574 on January 12, 2023. These actions, along with his misuse of an FBI-issued credit card to purchase three cell phones, which he pawned for personal gain, led to a loss of nearly $900 in taxpayer funds. His false claims that the purchases were legitimate case-related expenses further compounded the gravity of his offenses.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Laura Garcia and Sarina DiPiazza are prosecuting the case, as the Justice Department works to ensure that Williams is held accountable for his actions. His guilty plea has raised concerns about corruption within federal law enforcement, particularly given the sensitive nature of his involvement in the high-profile January 6 investigations.
