Houston college student sentenced for Jan. 6 capitol riot, says FBI agent allegedly stole from him

A Houston college student, Alexander Fan, sentenced for his involvement in the Jan. 6, 2021 breach at the U.S. Capitol, is among the alleged victims of an FBI agent indicted for theft.

During a sentencing hearing on Friday, Fan received 12 months of probation for trespassing. His attorney, Mark Thering, stated that Fan pleaded guilty and expressed genuine remorse to the court.

After Fan’s arrest in June 2023, his residence was searched, and court records preceding the hearing revealed that Fan reported missing items, including cash and silver bars, from his bedroom to the FBI the following day. These items were not seized during the warrants.

Thering mentioned that the loss amounted to several thousand dollars, and Fan did not anticipate any follow-up after reporting the incident.

Nicholas Anthony Williams, a Houston FBI agent, was arrested on Jan. 31, as announced by the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Williams is accused of stealing money and property from multiple homes while executing search warrants between March 2022 and July 2023. He also allegedly took FBI cell phones and made unauthorized charges on his government-issued credit card.

In response, Williams’ defense attorney, Chip Lewis, stated that Williams has cooperated with authorities since the start of the investigation.

Prosecutors have not disclosed the total number of victims or the extent of the thefts during the searches. The indictment alleges that Williams converted the stolen money or property for personal use.

Thering expressed that the situation does not reflect negatively on law enforcement agencies, although it underscores the importance of trusting public officials to uphold ethical standards.

If convicted, Williams could face a maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000.