Erika LaRae Williams, False Statement, Arizona 2020

PHOENIX, AZ – The network of enablers surrounding the alleged shooter of Phoenix Police Officer Tyler Moldovan is crumbling. Three individuals have pleaded guilty to federal charges related to providing firearms to Essa Williams, currently awaiting trial for the December 2021 shooting. While none of the weapons supplied by these defendants were used in the attack on Officer Moldovan, the cases expose a brazen disregard for gun laws and a willingness to arm a convicted felon.

Erika LaRae Williams, 51, of Phoenix, admitted to lying on a federal form when she purchased a Taurus G3 pistol on September 3, 2020. Five months after her son, Essa Williams, was released from the Arizona Department of Corrections, she falsely claimed she was the actual purchaser, knowing full well the gun was intended for him. She faces a maximum sentence of up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. Her sentencing is scheduled for July 31, 2023, before United States District Judge Steven P. Logan.

Dwayne Keith Anderson, 51, a licensed Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL) operating in Phoenix, took the scheme further. He met Essa Williams at a gun show and offered to circumvent the background check process. On December 13, 2021, Anderson accepted a photo and information for a woman – a complete fabrication – and used it to complete the Firearms Transaction Record, forging her signature. This allowed him to illegally sell a Masterpiece Arms Defender 9mm pistol directly to Williams. Anderson knowingly facilitated the transaction, accepting Williams’ payment at his home as the suspect drove up in a black Dodge Charger. Anderson’s sentencing is set for August 7, 2023, before Judge Logan, with a potential penalty of up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Police discovered the Masterpiece Arms Defender 9mm pistol on the floorboard of Williams’ black Dodge Charger following the shooting of Officer Moldovan. The search warrant was executed on December 14, 2021. While not the weapon used in the attack, its presence underscores the extent of the illegal gun pipeline.

Adding another layer to the conspiracy, Alice Berdicchia, 24, of Phoenix, pleaded guilty to Misprision of a Felony. On November 26, 2021, Berdicchia, Williams’ girlfriend at the time, knowingly supplied him with a Glock 9mm pistol. Fully aware of Williams’ extensive felony record and his legal inability to possess a firearm, she deliberately aided him in obtaining and concealing the weapon. Berdicchia faces sentencing on August 14, 2023, before Judge Logan, with a potential penalty for Misprision of a Felony.

Federal prosecutors are building a case against Williams, while these guilty pleas represent a significant step in dismantling the support system that allegedly enabled his actions. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, led by Gary M. Restaino, continues to investigate any further connections to this illegal firearms operation, seeking to hold all involved accountable for their roles in arming a dangerous individual.

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