About Sean Williams’ alleged crimes and related civil cases

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (WJHL) — Former Johnson City business owner Sean Williams — currently on trial in federal court in Greeneville on two escape-related counts — has been in federal custody, other than the five weeks he was at large in October and November 2023, since early May 2023.

He was transferred to federal custody after being arrested in Cullowhee, N.C. April 30, 2023 on drug charges because he had an outstanding federal warrant from 2021, when he was charged with being a felon in possession of ammunition. He spent almost two years at large after Johnson City police tried to arrest him May 5, 2021.

OUR FULL COVERAGE OF THE SEAN WILLIAMS CASES

Williams is also at the center of multiple sexual assault allegations and already faces child rape and federal child pornography production charges, with more charges possible.

Those allegations in turn form the basis for three federal civil lawsuits against Johnson City that either claim or suggest that Johnson City police corruptly looked the other way as Williams allegedly drugged and raped women over a period of years.

One document claims that more than 50 of the alleged assaults were filmed, and that Williams possessed digital files of those assaults when he was arrested in North Carolina.

The City of Johnson City has denied all the claims in the civil suits, the first of which is currently scheduled for trial in October.

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