As possible. Reporter now, williams has not made any public statements or any comments about the indictment so far. His Office Spokesman says that he was not in the office today, that he was spending time with his family. Were live in center city. Im mitch blacher, nbc 10 news. Youve been digging into questions about Seth Williams and gifts hes received for several months doing sbebs research. Reporter yeah, the nbc 10 investigators have done several reports from looking into his finances with his gift disclosures to the biggest gift disclosure, his 45,000 roof on his house. Now, we have just learned that some of these gifts, some of these unreported gifts have led to criminal charges. We have tried to ask him questions since the fall about how he spends money and how he collects money. This is what happened when we asked him if some of these scandals could actually lead to criminal charges. Mr. Williams, are you worried about any criminal charges for your conduct . Sir . Mr. Williams
And the charges extend to accusations he defrauded a local nursing home and a family friend. Mr. Williams diverted his relatives pension and Social Security payments to himself to pay for his own personal expenses instead of applying that money to pay for his relatives nursing home expenses. Reporter the federal indictment also mentioned Text Messages sent and received by Seth Williams that shows corruption. Its not clear o how much prison time he may face but each of the 23 counts carries between 5 and 20 years. Reporting live outside the federal building, denise nakano, nbc 10. The d. A. s Office Released this statement. The Philadelphia District Attorneys Office does not have any comment at this time. The d. A. Is not in the office today because hes spending time with his family. I ask that you respect his privacy and the privacy of the men and women of the office so all of us can continue to do our jobs without the distraction of additional media attention, end quote. Well, the nbc
According to the indictment the scheme took shape while mr. Williams and the Business Owner were in punta cana february of 2012. When Business Owner number one sent a text in february of 2012 again asking williams to help his friend he responded with a text message saying if he pleaded guildy and from the sentence it seems there is a mandatory sentence there is little i can do the day before without it looks extremely suspicious. My decision to accept gifts caused embarrassment. The Business Owners were not named in the indictment and no indication they were charged with a crime. To those charges the grand jury charged d. A. Essential williams with medicare fraud. He is acontusioned of stealing 20,000 from a relative and using that money for his own personal use. He was unable to reach the District Attorney but his Office Released a statement. The Philadelphia Das Office does not have any comment at that time. The da is not in the office because he is spending time with his family. For
Series of christmas transportations where he saw it and accepted bribes the charges were enacted by the District Attorney of new jersey. That he accepted tens of thousands of dollars worth of bribes that he exchanged for official acts. In the form of money, expensive vacations, airline tickets, a jaguar qx 8 convertible. Expensive furniture and other things of value. In exchange for his willingness to take official action as needed and in some cases taking official action on behalf of the bribe pairs. Among the guests williams accepted was vacations to the punta cana resort and a sofa worth thousands of dollars and checks and cash in the thousands. Mr. Williams solicited and accepted from Business Owner number two, 16 Round Trip Airline tickets. And a man known as Business Owner number one was asking for a lighter sentence for a friend who did not want to do jail time. Saying quote, i am merely a thankful beggar but would gladly go. And that williams tried to press a Police Official to
Airport is moved but if a new location. Action news has continuing coveran the situation in london as it unfolds tonight. Well bring you updates oir and o david muir will have a full wrap up of the investigation that comes up tonight after action news at 6 00. Not guilty that was the plea entered this afternoon by philadelphias top prosecutor District Attorney Seth Williams, had his First Court Hearing for 23 charges for bribery corruption and wire fraud. The judge let williams walk free but under certain conditions. Williams will have to pay 50,000 bail if he fails to appear at trial and his travel is restricted. Action News Reporter vernon odom is live now from center city. Reporter good afternoon sharrie. It was a brief but dramatic in my ways hearing this afternoon the top official in court as a defendant. Moments ago d. A. Seth williams and his lawyer left the courthouse, he entered a not guilty plea against him for the 23 charges. And they maintain he received money and trips and