Sacramento DA’s new book offers first insider account

Includes details from one of Contra Costa County’s darkest chapters

By Angelle Barbazon, Lead Publicist, Books Forward

SACRAMENTO – In “The People vs. the Golden State Killer” (Third State Books), Thien Ho, the current District Attorney of Sacramento County, delivers the first official account of the investigation, capture and prosecution of Joseph James DeAngelo, Jr., one of California’s and America’s most notorious serial predators. Known by many chilling names over the years, including the East Area Rapist, the Original Nightstalker, the Visalia Ransacker and finally the Golden State Killer, DeAngelo terrorized California communities for over a decade – and then disappeared without a trace for more than 30 years.

After more than 40 years of fear and unanswered questions, it was Thien who finally secured DeAngelo’s life sentence. Now, for the first time, Thien is pulling back the curtain in “The People vs. the Golden State Killer”. The book includes never-before-heard survivor testimony, chilling details of DeAngelo’s deception and behind-the-scenes insights from the investigators who refused to let him escape justice.

The book covers one of Contra Costa County’s darkest chapters. DeAngelo’s crimes included more than 120 burglaries, over 50 rapes and 13 murders across six counties, with Contra Costa residents among the victims he terrorized for decades. All the while, he lived in plain sight as a cop, a husband and even a neighbor, hiding in the very communities he stalked. (See related Herald articles here and here).

As the lead prosecutor on the case, Ho recounts the exhilarating and harrowing experience of bringing a cold-case killer to justice and putting him behind bars for life. Rather than focusing solely on the criminal and the crimes, Ho’s narrative centers the dedicated law-enforcement teams who never gave up their pursuit of the GSK; and the courageous survivors of his crimes who fought to heal and regain control of their lives. “The People vs. the Golden State Killer” includes hundreds of never-before-revealed details and firsthand insights. Unlike previous accounts, this is the first time the public hears directly from the lead prosecutor who helped close the case. The book also features the authorized voices of survivors who turned their trauma into powerful advocacy.

A portion of the book’s proceeds will benefit Phyllis’s Garden, a nonprofit that honors a GSK survivor and champions victims’ rights.

Ho also recounts his equally compelling personal story: a Vietnamese refugee whose family fled Saigon at the end of the Vietnam War, he arrived in the United States knowing no English. He rose from being an intern to being elected Sacramento County District Attorney in 2022, becoming one of only 10 Asian American district attorneys out of 2,400 nationwide. He brings both legal authority and emotional truth to a case that gripped the country and the world.

About the Author

Thien Ho is the author of “The People vs. The Golden State Killer.” He was elected District Attorney of Sacramento County in 2022 and took office in 2023. Over a 25-year legal career, he has prosecuted hundreds of high-profile sexual assault, gang, and homicide cases and served as supervisor of the Gang and Hate Crime Unit. In 2017, he received Prosecutor of the Year honors from both the National Asian Pacific Islander Prosecutors Association and the Sacramento DA’s Office. He is best known for successfully prosecuting Joseph DeAngelo, a.k.a. the Golden State Killer.

What Others Are Saying

“Ho’s careful, well-written account chronicles [how] DeAngelo was brought to justice. . . . A disturbing real-world procedural about ‘the bogeyman who couldn’t be found—until we found him.’” – Kirkus Reviews

“A worthwhile account of a well-covered case . . . Most affecting are Ho’s interviews with DeAngelo’s surviving victims, who starkly recount their kidnappings and assaults. The autobiographical sections in which Ho discusses his path from Vietnamese war refugee to Northern California prosecutor are inspiring.” – Publishers Weekly

“Sacramento DA Thien Ho is a tenacious prosecutor who played a crucial role in putting the Golden State Killer in prison for life. ‘The People vs. the Golden State Killer’ is a riveting behind-the-scenes account about the investigation, capture, and prosecution of Joseph DeAngelo.” – Paul Holes, bestselling author of “Unmasked”

An Interview with Thien Ho

You explore Joseph DeAngelo’s backstory and early signs of violence. How did that psychological profile affect the way you viewed him?

His early behavior showed a clear escalation … voyeurism, theft, then rape and murder. It was a classic profile of a predator who felt entitled to power and control. Understanding that helped us anticipate his behavior and build a stronger case. But it also underscored how many warning signs were missed. That made our pursuit of justice all the more urgent. We could not change the past, but we could make sure he never hurt anyone again.

He led a split life – a police officer by day, predator by night. What did you learn about how he managed to keep that double identity hidden for so long, even from his family?

DeAngelo was meticulous. He compartmentalized his life with surgical precision. He was not impulsive, he planned, he stalked, he adapted. That is how he avoided capture for so long. It was chilling to realize that someone could commit such evil while maintaining the appearance of normalcy. But evil does not always look like a monster. Sometimes it looks like your neighbor.

DeAngelo’s behavior during the interrogation was chilling. He tried to fake insanity and even hurt himself after the arrest. At what point did you and your team stop seeing these actions as confusion or remorse, and start seeing them as strategy?

Very early on. We saw through the act. He whispered to himself in the interrogation room, trying to create this narrative of mental instability, but the timing and the manner were too deliberate. It was not remorse, it was manipulation. He had eluded capture for decades using deception. This was just another tactic. But this time, it did not work.

DeAngelo tried to appear weak and frail in court. How did that version of him compare to the man you knew he really was behind the scenes?

It was an act, a carefully staged performance. In reality, DeAngelo was calculating, manipulative, and far more aware than he pretended to be. I had seen the evidence, the way he moved, how he covered his tracks. He wanted the world to see a broken old man. But we knew better. The survivors knew better. And the truth won.

At one point, you made a rare promise to a survivor that you would get her justice. What made you make that promise, and did it stay with you during the case?

She had waited decades to be believed, and when she looked me in the eye and asked if this time would be different, I knew I could not let her down. I promised I would fight for her like she was my own family. That promise was with me every day of the case. It guided every decision, every argument, every late night. And when justice came, I thought of her first.

Unlike most books and documentaries that focus on the killer, your book centers the survivors and the people who brought him to justice. Why was that shift so important to you, and how did you approach telling such personal, painful stories with care?

Too often, the spotlight stays on the monster. I wanted to shift the focus to the heroes; the survivors, the investigators, and the prosecutors who never gave up. These are people who found the courage to speak, to remember, and to fight back. I approached their stories with the same care I brought to court … listen deeply, tell the truth, and honor their humanity. They are the soul of this case.

Hearing survivor impact statements must have been an incredibly powerful moment. Was there one that especially stayed with you?

Every single statement hit me hard, but one survivor, someone who had never spoken publicly before, looked DeAngelo in the eye and told him she was no longer afraid. That moment stuck with me. Her strength, after everything she endured, reminded me why we fight so hard for justice. It was not just about locking him up, it was about restoring power to those he tried to destroy.

Now that DeAngelo is behind bars for life, what can you share about his life in prison?

What I can say is this, DeAngelo lives in a prison cell, just as he once trapped his victims in fear. He is no longer in control. He no longer gets to hide behind a mask of normalcy. And he will never walk free again. That is the justice system doing its job, and it will do so until his last breath.

Are there any unanswered questions or unresolved pieces of this case that still weigh on you?

There are always questions that linger in a case like this. Some of DeAngelo’s crimes remain unconfirmed or unsolved, and I suspect there may be victims we still do not know about. We did everything in our power to connect the dots, but the passage of time erases evidence, and sadly, sometimes, voices. I carry the weight of what we could not prove alongside the pride of what we did.

After years of work, what did “justice” look like for you – not just legally, but personally and emotionally – when this case finally concluded?

Justice, for me, was not just a sentence; it was a sense of peace for the survivors who carried these scars for decades. Seeing DeAngelo wheeled into court, forced to hear the voices of the people he tried to silence, was powerful. But it was also deeply personal. I came to this country as a refugee fleeing violence. To now serve as the elected District Attorney and bring one of the nation’s most brutal serial predators to justice was full circle. It meant something bigger than any verdict.

What justice means to him

Bringing DeAngelo to justice was not only a legal victory. It was a personal, full-circle moment that symbolized hope and accountability.

“The People vs. The Golden State Killer”

Thien Ho | Nov. 11, 2025 | Third State Books | Nonfiction / True Crime

Hardcover | 979-8890130358 | $29.95

Available on Amazon.com at The People vs. the Golden State Killer: Ho, Thien

Including 7 traffickers in Contra Costa County; Contra Costa DA’s Office, Pittsburg PD participate

By Lt. Joshua Singleton, Task Force Commander, Human Trafficking Task Force, Santa Clara District Attorney’s Office                 

Days after the Super Bowl, the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Human Trafficking Task Force reported its own statistics: numbers that showed enhanced investigations resulted in the arrests of 29 traffickers and the recovery of 73 sex trafficking victims, including 10 minors. One of the victims, who was being trafficked in Oakland, was 12 years old.

Law enforcement operations were held throughout 11 Bay Area counties during the lead up to one of the world’s biggest sporting events. Similar enforcement is being prepared for the deluge of fans coming to see the 2026 FIFA World Cup soccer tournament games at Levi’s Stadium between June 13 and July 1.

District Attorney Jeff Rosen said: “Beyond football, the Super Bowl was a triumph of Bay Area law enforcement planning, organization, cooperation, and safety. Human trafficking is not a game, it’s a tragedy. However, our team was very successful. Close to 70 agencies effectively discouraged traffickers from exploiting the game and victims. For traffickers that still came to the game from all over the world with bad intentions, many ended up behind bars.”

The HTTF helped organize the efforts of 67 law enforcement agencies from Sacramento to Monterey.

For two weeks before the Big Game, the Task Force set up a command center in Sunnyvale populated with more than 20 analysts from various agencies, such as the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office, the DA’s Crime Strategies Unit, the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office, Pittsburg Police Department, federal agencies, and partners from community-based organizations such as In Our Backyard, and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. The analysts worked on tips in real time and worked alongside agents in the field to do investigations and make arrests. Operations that often take weeks took minutes in the enhanced Human Trafficking Tactical Operations Center.

Launching almost 40 operations, investigators recovered 20 victims from San Mateo County alone. Seven traffickers were arrested in Contra Costa; six in Monterey and Solano counties. In Santa Clara County, seven victims were recovered, two traffickers arrested and a firearm was seized. 

View the In Our Backyard 2026 Super Bowl Report.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

By Ted Asregadoo, PIO, Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office

Martinez, CA – The Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office (CCCDAO) issued a public report on a use of force incident in Antioch that resulted in the shooting death of David Wali Bahrami on June 30th, 2025, and finds the officers acted in reasonable self-defense/defense of others.

When a law enforcement officer or civilian is shot, killed or dies during an interaction involving a Contra Costa County police agency, the District Attorney’s Office launches an independent investigation. When no criminal charges are filed, the District Attorney’s Office will publish a public report detailing the facts and explaining the legal reasoning for this decision.

District Attorney Diana Becton said, “Transparency and accountability are fundamental to maintaining public trust. When a fatal incident occurs, my office is committed to conducting a comprehensive, independent investigation and sharing our findings with the community in a detailed public report.”

As previously reported, at approximately 6:16 am on June 30th, 2025, Antioch Police Department Dispatch received multiple 911 calls from David Bahrami, who lived with his family in Antioch and had a history of mental illness. He told dispatch he was about to kill someone, gave his address, and hung up the phone.

Multiple Antioch Police Officers staged nearby and called Bahrami to open a line of communication and to de-escalate the situation. At approximately 7:40 am, he threatened to kill his neighbor if officers did not come to his house. As a result, officers asked him to come outside to draw him away from family members inside the home.

Emerging from his residence, Bahrami walked toward the officers’ location approximately four houses away. Officers ordered him to stop and get on his knees, but instead he pulled out a large kitchen knife from his waistband and began running toward them. One officer fired a single less lethal round, which had no effect.

Bahrami continued running in a semi-circular path, then changed course and ran toward the police with the knife in his hand. When he was approximately 15–20 feet away, officers discharged their firearms to prevent themselves from potentially suffering great bodily injury or death from an imminent knife attack. He sustained multiple gunshot injuries and fell to the ground with the knife still in his hand. Officers immediately began administering medical aid, but Bahrami died at the scene.

During this encounter, responding officers repeatedly attempted de-escalation tactics by staging nearby and establishing communication with Bahrami. When confronted with an armed individual, Antioch officers elected to use less-lethal force. Officers resorted to lethal force only when Bahrami continued to wield his knife in direct proximity to the officers. Under the applicable legal standards, the District Attorney’s Office has determined that the officers acted in lawful self-defense/defense of others.

About the Report

The report is the final step in the CCCDAO investigation of the Antioch Police Department’s officer involved fatal incident of David Wali BAHRAMI on June 30th, 2025. The CCCDAO and every law enforcement agency in Contra Costa County follows the Law Enforcement Involved Fatal Incident Protocol (“the Protocol”)2 when investigating incidents where officers or civilians are shot, killed, or die during an encounter with law enforcement. Under the Protocol, the CCCDAO investigates all in-custody deaths in Contra Costa County for the purpose of making an independent determination of criminal liability. The sole purpose of the District Attorney investigation is to determine if there is proof beyond a reasonable doubt that an individual involved in the law enforcement involved fatality committed a crime.

Pursuant to the Protocol, immediately after an in-custody death, the involved law enforcement agency is required to notify the appropriate district attorney personnel. Once notified, trained and experienced members of the District Attorney’s Office respond to the scene and begin the criminal investigation. In addition, criminal investigators from the law enforcement agency involved in the incident and from the jurisdiction where the incident occurred, if different, respond to the scene as well. It is important to note that although these investigations happen simultaneously, each agency conducts its own independent investigation.

As part of the criminal investigation, law enforcement officers and civilians who witnessed the incident may be interviewed. Evidence is collected at the scene and may be submitted to the county crime lab for testing and analysis, in addition to any other relevant investigative work necessary to complete the investigation. The Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office Crime Lab responds to every incident and is responsible for evidence collection of all in-custody deaths.

During the course of the criminal investigation, an officer or deputy has the right to be represented by an attorney. They may voluntarily choose to provide a statement, physical evidence, or other relevant information during the criminal and administrative investigations. Under the law, neither an officer nor civilian can be compelled to give a statement as part of a criminal investigation. However, an officer may be compelled to provide a statement during the law enforcement agency’s administrative investigation only.

The report includes a timeline of the actions of Bahrami and each officer. Witnesses included Bahrami’s sister, brother, father and mother.

A copy of the report has been sent to the Antioch Police Department, the California Department of Justice and is available to the public on the Contra Costa District Attorney’s website. (WARNING: The report contains graphic images)

View critical incident video in English – https://youtu.be/2cxJ7Z1izMM (WARNING: Graphic scenes of shooting and language). Español – https://youtu.be/EI028-WqUHk

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

By Acting Sgt. John Cox #5705, Antioch Police Investigations Bureau

Antioch police officers responded to a reported shooting in the 2200 block of Sycamore Drive on February 19, 2026, at 7:17 p.m.

Upon arrival, officers located a 20-year-old woman who was suffering from at least one gunshot wound. Officers immediately rendered medical aid; however, she died at the scene.

The Antioch Police Department’s Investigations Bureau, including Crime Scene Investigators and detectives from the Violent Crimes Unit, responded to the scene and assumed responsibility for the investigation. The suspect is known to police.

This case remains active, and no additional information is being released at this time.

The Investigations Bureau will provide additional updates as they become available.

Anyone with information related to this incident is encouraged to contact Detective Shaffer at (925) 779-6944 or via email at cshaffer@antiochca.gov.

Nathaniel Leon Yancey, III fled with two others sought by police; faces multiple charges, bail set at $101,667

By Benicia Police Department

Yesterday, Feb. 18, 2026, around 12:00 p.m., our dispatch center received a call from a resident that had been robbed of her purse and phone (note: no weapons used) as she approached the front door of her home. The incident happened in a neighborhood near Rose Drive and Columbus Parkway in Benicia. Three suspects were involved and fled the scene in a vehicle that had stolen plates. Using the stolen plate number, we were able to confirm through our ALPR system (Flock) that the vehicle was in the area of the robbery at the time it happened and also discover that the vehicle had entered the City of Antioch shortly after the robbery.

Our partners at Antioch Police Department were able to locate and stop the vehicle at which time all three suspects fled on foot. One of the suspects, Nathaniel Leon Yancey, III, a 22-year-old male from Antioch, was captured at 2:09 p.m. in the 2100 block of Peppertree Way in Antioch, brought back to Benicia PD, positively identified and subsequently transported to County Jail for booking. The suspect’s vehicle was towed back to Benicia PD and the stolen possessions were located inside.

According to the Benicia Police Department’s Citizen RIMS, the five-foot, nine-inch tall, 170-pound Yancey is Black and is charged with felony robbery, felony causing injury to an elder or dependent adult, felony conspiracy to commit a crime, violating civil rights by force or threat of force, receiving/etc. known stolen property and petty theft – all other larceny. He is currently being held in the Justice Center Detention Facility in Fairfield.

According to the Solano County Sheriff’s Department, he was born 10/23/2003, and also faces one felony charge of probation violation, rearrest/revoke. Yance’s bail is set at $101,667 and his court date is scheduled for Feb. 20 at 1:30 p.m. in Superior Court, Fairfield.

According to localcrimenews.com, while a resident of Rodeo, he was arrested on Sept. 16, 2025, in Solano County by Solano CHP, for evasion of a peace officer on the wrong side of the median and evasion with wanton disregard for safety.

Detectives continue to follow leads in order to locate and arrest the other individuals involved. Case #26-00236.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

Each with history of arrests

By Jimmy Lee, Director of Public Affairs, Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff

On Tuesday, February 17, 2026, at about 1:01 PM, Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office Valley Station deputy sheriffs responded to a report of a robbery at a bank on the 3100 block of Danville Boulevard in Alamo.

The suspect and vehicle descriptions were broadcast to area law enforcement agencies. Danville police were able to identify a license plate associated with the suspect vehicle and began searching for it.

Lafayette police officers also began searching for the suspect vehicle in the downtown area and witnessed an attempted robbery outside a bank on the 3600 block of Mt. Diablo Blvd. The suspect ran to a waiting vehicle, which fled toward Lafayette Circle. Lafayette police later located the unoccupied car parked on Lafayette Circle.

Lafayette police were able to detain two suspects near East Street and determine they were the suspects in the Lafayette attempted robbery and the Alamo robbery. A search of the suspect’s backpack found a replica Glock firearm. Another police department in the area is investigating a similar incident just prior to the Alamo robbery.

Jarmaya Tillman, 23-years-old from Antioch (born 4/13/2002) and 20-year-old Allen Charles Benjamin Foster of Oakland (born 3/28/2005), were arrested for robbery, attempted robbery and two counts of conspiracy.

Both suspects were booked into the Martinez Detention Facility.

Tillman is being held in lieu of $200,000 bail, while Foster’s bail is set at $150,000.

During the search for the suspects, Valley Station deputy sheriffs and Lafayette police were assisted by Danville PD, Orinda PD, Moraga PD and Concord PD.

According to the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office, Tillman is five-feet, 11-inches tall and 160-pounds and Foster is five-feet, 10-inches tall and 195-pounds.

According to localcrimenews.com, Tillman is Black and while an Oakland resident was arrested three times in 2020 and 2021 for burglary, with one arrest including charges for minor in possession of live ammunition and minor shall not be in possession of any concealed firearm. Foster is Black and this is his ninth arrest since 2023 by five other agencies for crimes including multiple counts of vehicle theft, grand theft, robbery, receiving stolen property and gun charges.

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with any information on this incident is asked to contact the Investigation Division at (925) 313-2600. For any tips, email: tips@so.cccounty.us or call (866) 846-3592 to leave an anonymous voice message.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

By Lt. Michael Mellone, Antioch Police Department

ANTIOCH, CA — On Sunday, February 15, 2026, at 8:37 p.m., Antioch Police officers responded to the Antioch Inn & Suites, formerly Comfort Inn, located at 2436 Mahogany Way for a reported stabbing. However, according to a hotel staff member, the stabbing occurred in the Lowe’s parking lot across the street and the victim walked to the hotel property.

Upon arrival, officers located a man suffering from multiple stab wounds. Officers immediately rendered emergency medical aid until personnel from Contra Costa County Fire Protection District arrived and assumed care. The man was transported to a local hospital, where he remains in critical condition.

Antioch Police officers and detectives are actively investigating the incident. Detectives are canvassing the area for witnesses and reviewing available evidence. At this time, no arrests have been made. Based on preliminary information, investigators believe this was a targeted incident. There is currently no indication of an ongoing threat to the public.

Last year, the Antioch City Council approved purchase of the hotel “to serve as permanent housing for homeless families/individuals with prior behavioral health issues” and veterans. But it’s still operating as a hotel. Recently, the Council discussed using the location for the unhoused voucher program and a possible site for a warming center but did not pursue either use.

Anyone with information related to this incident is encouraged to contact Detective Hoffman at (925) 779-6972 or via email at rhoffman@antiochca.gov. Individuals wishing to remain anonymous may provide information without identifying themselves.

Additional information will be released as it becomes available.

Case # 25-1568

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

No prison time; both testified against former colleagues

By Allen D. Payton

The final cases of Antioch Police Officers that were the focus of the Contra Costa DA and FBI investigations were settled last month with two former officers given sentences of time served. As a result, Timothy Manly Williams and Daniel Harris will not face any time in prison. Both testified against their former colleagues.

According to a previously published report by the U.S. Attorney’s Office Northern District of California, Manly Williams pleaded guilty on Nov. 28, 2023, to destruction, alteration and falsification of records in federal investigations, obstruction of official proceedings and deprivation of rights under color of law. Manly Williams was sentenced to “six months’ custody, followed by three years of supervised release, and 100 hours of community service.

Harris pleaded guilty on Sept. 17, 2024 to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute anabolic steroids, and possession with intent to distribute anabolic steroids as well as bank fraud. Harris was sentenced to “twelve months and a day of custody, followed by three years of supervised release, and 100 hours of community service.”

Both men’s sentencing hearings were held on Jan. 13, 2026, but no statement was issued by the U.S. Attorney’s Office Northern District of California, which prosecuted both cases.

Manly Williams’ Case Details

According to the Sentencing Memorandum for Manly Williams, “In May 2021, the Antioch Police Department (“APD”) discovered during a routine audit something surprising: their own police officer, Timothy Manly Williams, had called a subject of a wiretap he was monitoring. From all appearances, he had intentionally burned the wire and attempted to cover it up. A sprawling federal investigation would eventually result in various criminal charges against ten Antioch or Pittsburg Police Department (“PPD”) officers or employees, including Manly Williams.

“In August 2023, Manly Williams was indicted for his concealment of that call during the wiretap, which constituted criminal falsification of records and obstruction of justice, as well as for his unconstitutional destruction of a citizen’s cell phone following his then-roommate APD Officer Morteza Amiri’s release of a police canine to bite a suspect.

“By September 2023, Manly Williams had already met with the government a first time. By November 2023, he had promptly pleaded guilty to his crimes. In March 2025, he testified in the jury trial involving that same former roommate regarding another dog bite for which he was present, and Amiri’s concealment of facts surrounding that bite. He also admitted to additional criminal conduct not specifically referenced in the indictments.

“Manly Williams’ crimes were very serious, particularly given his role as a police officer sworn to uphold the law and protect his fellow citizens. However, his immediate acceptance of responsibility and cooperation with the government was also very significant, particularly given that same role, and the government accordingly moves for a downward variance pursuant to § 5K1.1 for his substantial assistance to authorities.

“Based on the nature and circumstances of the serious offenses, the defendant’s history and characteristics (including his role as a sworn police officer), the need for deterrence, and the need to avoid unwarranted sentence disparities given the sentences already imposed by this Court, as well as the government’s motion for the equivalent of a five-level downward departure pursuant to § 5K1.1, the government recommends that the Court impose a sentence of six months’ custody, followed by three years of supervised release, and 100 hours of community service. This proposed sentence is sufficient, but not greater than necessary, to achieve the goals set forth in 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a)(2).

“The government’s investigation also revealed other relevant criminal conduct, which Manly Williams admitted carrying out, including:

• While employed as a police officer with PPD and APD, Manly Williams illegally purchased anabolic steroids, Schedule III controlled substances, from PPD Officer Patrick Berhan and APD Officer Daniel Harris.

• While employed as a police officer with PPD and APD, Manly Williams misused confidential law enforcement databases by performing searches for the benefit of himself or friends without a proper law enforcement purpose. For instance, in approximately December 2020 he searched for the criminal history of his friend for no legitimate law enforcement purpose; and in approximately February 2021 he searched or caused law enforcement databases to be searched for warrants for no legitimate law enforcement purpose.

• While employed as APD police officers, Manly Williams and APD Officer Morteza Amiri illegally took marijuana and/or marijuana products seized from APD law enforcement activity, including in approximately December 2020 when Amiri stated to Manly Williams, “I got a basketball size bag of weed in my trunk.” Instead of filing reports with APD on the seizures of marijuana or submitting the marijuana into evidence, Amiri and Manly Williams personally consumed the marijuana in violation of APD policy and, in at least one instance in approximately November 2020, Manly Williams arranged for the sale of such marijuana and received proceeds from its sale.

• While employed as an APD police officer, Manly Williams illegally facilitated the removal or dismissal of traffic tickets for the benefit of himself, friends, or colleagues without a proper law enforcement purpose, including in approximately October 2020 via other APD officers in which the recipient of a ticket provided tequila bottles in exchange for those officers not appearing in court for a traffic ticket, and in approximately April 2021 at the behest of a PPD, who requested that a particular traffic ticket be disregarded.

• While employed as an APD police officer, Manly Williams wrongfully posted law enforcement-sensitive information to his Instagram account using the story feature to “close friends” who were outside the law enforcement community.”

The Memorandum also explained, Manly Williams had no previous arrests and did not have criminal convictions resulting in any Criminal History Points, placing him in Criminal History Category I and “the government agreed with the Sentencing Guidelines calculation of the United States Probation Office.

Read more details in Manly Williams’ Sentencing Memorandum.

Harris’ Case Details

According to his Sentencing Memorandum, “Defendant Daniel Harris, a police officer with the Antioch Police Department (“APD”), began purchasing illegal anabolic steroids for his own personal use around 2019. He then began selling and distributing these Schedule III controlled substances to numerous other law enforcement officers at APD and neighboring law enforcement agencies. Among others, Harris sold illegal anabolic steroids to fellow APD officer Devon Wenger, and also agreed with Wenger to distribute them to Wenger’s friend B.M. Harris’ prolific sale and distribution of illegal anabolic steroids continued through March 2022 as he was in the process of moving from California to Texas, only coming to a halt after the FBI executed search warrants that located and seized troves of illegal anabolic steroids from a postal package destined for Harris (including steroids for Wenger’s friend), from Harris’ California residence, and from Harris’ new residence in Weatherford, Texas.

“The government’s investigation also revealed that Harris’ criminal activity while employed as an APD officer was not limited to the purchase and distribution of illegal anabolic steroids: he further committed bank fraud by falsifying information in his application for a mortgage to purchase his Texas residence.

“Harris’ crimes were particularly serious given Harris’ role as a law enforcement officer sworn to uphold the law. However, following his indictment and arrest, Harris took responsibility for his actions and pleaded guilty to all of these crimes, agreed to meet with the government and cooperate, and ultimately testified before the jury as to his and Wenger’s conduct involving the distribution of illegal anabolic steroids.

“Based on the nature and circumstances of the serious offenses, the defendant’s history and characteristics (including his role as a sworn police officer), the need for deterrence, and the need to avoid unwarranted sentence disparities given the sentences already imposed by this Court, as well as the government’s motion for the equivalent of a three-level downward departure pursuant to § 5K1.1, the government recommends that the Court impose a sentence of twelve months and a day of custody, followed by three years of supervised release, and 100 hours of community service. This proposed sentence is sufficient, but not greater than necessary, to achieve the goals set forth in 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a)(2).”

In addition the Memorandum explains, “In February 2022, Harris knowingly supplied inaccurate information to a financial institution in connection with his application for a mortgage. During this time, Harris applied for, and subsequently received, a $494,000 loan from Mortgage Financial Services LLC with the intent to defraud the financial institution to purchase a residence…in Weatherford, Texas. Harris provided false information in and omitted material facts from his application.”

Read more details in Harris’ Sentencing Memorandum.