A Tennessee businessman and convicted felon, Sean Williams, who is currently incarcerated, continues to assert his innocence in the face of a federal lawsuit that has accused him of being a “serial rapist.”
Ten anonymous women have filed a lawsuit against the Johnson City Police Department (JCPD), alleging that the department ignored their complaints regarding Sean Williams, a local business owner. They claim that Williams drugged and sexually assaulted them during parties hosted in his downtown apartment.
Williams, who was the former owner of Glass and Concrete Contracting LLC in Tennessee, provided written responses to Fox News Digital from the Laurel County Jail. He expressed disbelief at the notion of drugging anyone, especially considering that he was well-known for hosting parties in the area, and many women in town were eager to attend.
“Due to my luxurious residence and generosity in spending money, I quickly gained popularity. People associated me with wealth, enjoyment of social gatherings, and an attraction to women,” Williams stated. He added that anyone who frequented downtown Johnson City was likely familiar with him and his parties.
Before the federal lawsuit, Williams had been evading law enforcement for two years after being charged with illegal possession of ammunition in 2021 by former Assistant U.S. Attorney Kateri Dahl. She alleges that she was fired by Johnson City officials for raising concerns about Williams. Williams’ criminal record includes prior convictions for drug possession, probation violation, and fraud. He was eventually apprehended by North Carolina police in April, and during their investigation, they discovered videos on his electronic devices that allegedly depicted him sexually assaulting 52 different women.
A spokesperson for the Western Carolina University (WCU) police reported that they located Williams on school property, leading to a routine check. Drugs were discovered in his car, which prompted the authorities to obtain a search warrant for his devices. They allegedly found videos and images involving 52 different victims who appeared to have been sexually assaulted by Williams. Additionally, one of his thumb drives contained over 5,000 images of child pornography, according to the spokesperson.
Williams vehemently denied the allegations, claiming that if such evidence existed, he would have already been charged. He accused law enforcement of stealing his money and planting drugs on him, insisting that his phone had been illegally seized and searched, revealing nothing incriminating. He maintained that the images and videos on his devices were related to consensual activities with adult female friends.
In July, Williams reportedly attempted to escape from the Washington County Detention Center. The details of this escape are not included in the federal lawsuit. However, he claimed that the escape charge was filed against him on the same day as his hearing in an attempt to suppress evidence related to ammunition allegedly found in his home safe.
Before the alleged escape attempt, in June, lawyers representing ten anonymous plaintiffs, referred to as “Jane Does,” who accused Williams of drugging and sexually assaulting them, filed a lawsuit against the city and its officials. They claimed that JCPD had received multiple reports about Williams’ actions between 2019 and 2020 but failed to take appropriate action against him.
The federal complaint further alleged that Williams, a known drug dealer and convicted felon, conspired with another individual, Alvaro Fernando Diaz-Vargas, and an unnamed woman to recruit local women and bring them to Williams’ apartment, where he would allegedly drug and sexually assault them. In exchange, Williams allegedly provided Diaz-Vargas and the woman with free housing. All the victims mentioned in the lawsuit claim they became incapacitated after consuming drugs or alcohol at Williams’ residence and were subsequently subjected to sexual assault.
One victim reportedly became incapacitated after drinking at Williams’ apartment, later crashing her car and dying on impact. Two victims approached the police to report the incidents, and one contacted the FBI. The lawsuit alleges that police failed to properly investigate Williams’ crimes against women, intimidated and discouraged plaintiffs from pursuing charges, and made false statements to obstruct the criminal investigation.
JCPD responded to these allegations, stating that the facts would emerge in court and emphasizing their commitment to supporting victims of sexual crimes.
Former Assistant U.S. Attorney Dahl, now a whistleblower, raised concerns about the mishandling of victims’ cases by JCPD. She has filed her own lawsuit against Johnson City and disclosed her concerns to the Justice Department through Whistleblower Aid.
An independent audit commissioned by the city corroborated Dahl’s concerns, highlighting deficiencies in evidence collection and reporting within JCPD regarding sexual assault cases.
Andrew Bakaj, lead counsel for Whistleblower Aid, noted that Kat Dahl’s determination to seek justice for the victims had been vindicated by the audit findings. He urged local and national authorities to deliver justice for the victims and reform the police department.
Williams, in response, portrayed Dahl as a disgruntled former prosecutor who initiated a smear campaign against him. He dismissed the allegations as motivated by various factors, including spite, seeking financial settlements, fame, or blaming him for unrelated incidents.
In Williams’ view, he was an easy target for these allegations, which he vehemently denies, framing the situation as a witch hunt against him.