Federal Lawsuit Alleges Police Corruption
A federal lawsuit claims that police officers in Johnson City, Tennessee, accepted thousands of dollars from a local businessman in exchange for obstructing investigations into allegations that he sexually assaulted multiple women over several years. The Johnson City Police Department has denied any involvement in extortion.
Accusations Against Sean Williams
The lawsuit accuses Sean Williams, a building contractor now in custody on state and federal charges, of drugging and raping women in East Tennessee from 2018 to 2021. The suit alleges that Johnson City Police officers failed to investigate Williams adequately, allowing him to continue his criminal activities unchecked.
Implicating Police Officers
Lawyers for nine women, identified as Jane Does 1-9, claim there was “either an implied or explicit agreement” between Williams and the police officers. This agreement allegedly permitted Williams to continue his abuse and trafficking activities without fear of intervention from law enforcement.
Detailed Extortion Claims
While the extortion claims were initially raised months ago, a May 14 court filing has made these allegations more explicit, citing banking documents as evidence. The plaintiffs’ lawyers have also provided hundreds of pages of information to support a federal public corruption investigation into the Johnson City Police Department.
Current Charges Against Williams
Sean Williams faces numerous charges at both the state and federal levels. State charges include child rape, aggravated sexual battery, and especially aggravated sexual exploitation. Federally, he is charged with three counts of producing child sexual abuse material, one count of distributing cocaine, and one count of escape. Williams reportedly kicked out the window of a federal transport van and was apprehended in Florida over a month later.
Police Department’s Response
The Johnson City Police Department has strongly denied any wrongdoing, refuting the claims of extortion and corruption. They maintain that their officers acted within the bounds of the law and that no special treatment was afforded to Williams.
