Colleyville, Texas – In a shocking turn of events, Henry ‘Michael’ Dwight Williams, 32, has pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm in connection with the sale of a pistol used in the Texas synagogue hostage crisis.
Williams, a convicted felon with prior convictions for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and attempted possession of a controlled substance, sold the semiautomatic Taurus G2C pistol to Malik Faisal Akram, the man who took four individuals hostage at Congregation Beth Israel synagogue in Colleyville, Texas, on January 15, 2022.
According to the complaint, Williams admitted to possession of the firearm despite his prior conviction, which is a federal firearm crime. The sale of the pistol took place on January 13, 2022, at an intersection in South Dallas.
The investigation into the hostage taking was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Dallas Field Office, with the assistance of the Dallas Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives’ Dallas Field Division, Homeland Security Investigations’ Dallas Field Division, and the Colleyville Police Department.
Williams now faces up to 10 years in federal prison for his crime. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joe Magliolo is prosecuting the case with the support of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Errin Martin, Jay Weimer, Alex Lewis, Nicole Dana, P.J. Meitl, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Lindsey Beran.
The case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of enforcing federal firearm laws, which are designed to keep guns from falling into the hands of dangerous offenders. The Justice Department is committed to prosecuting those who violate these laws, said U.S. Attorney Chad Meacham.
The investigation into the hostage taking was a complex and intensive effort, said Dallas FBI Special Agent in Charge Matthew DeSarno. The FBI tied Williams to Akram through an analysis of Akram’s cellphone records, which showed the pair exchanged a series of calls from January 11 through January 13.
Related Federal Cases
- Brian Alfred, Felon in Possession of a Firearm, Texas 2019 · Texas
- Pedro Garcia, Felon in Possession of Firearm, Oxnard CA, 2024 · Wyoming
- Terry Dewayne Monk, Felon in Possession of a Firearm, Tyler TX, 2023 · Texas
- Bobby Joe Hampton, Felon in Possession of a Firearm, AR, 2015 · Texas
- Gary Lee Ortiz, Felon in Possession of a Firearm, California 2024 · Texas
Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Category: Weapons
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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