Philly DA Seth Williams Facing Federal Charges Including Extortion And Fraud

Federal officials held a press conference Tuesday where they announced corruption charges against Philadelphia District Attorney Seth Williams.

According to the indictment filed against Williams, he faces 23 counts of four different charges: 10 counts of travel and use of interstate facilities to promote and facilitate bribery contrary to Pennsylvania law; two counts of extortion; five counts of honest wire fraud; and six counts of wire fraud.

The indictment claims Williams accepted gifts including a Jaguar vehicle, a trip to the Dominican Republic, checks and cash, and a custom sofa among other high end items.

He allegedly accepted the gifts from a business owner who asked for help from Williams in a legal matter, according to the indictment.

The indictment also claims Williams defrauding a nursing home and other individuals by diverting money to be used for care of Williams' relative that he spent on himself.

An arraignment has not been set, according to Acting U.S. Attorney, District of New Jersey, William E. Fitzpatrick.

Fitzpatrick said the charges do not reflect District Attorney's Office conduct in courts.

"There is nothing about this indictment that bears upon the competency, integrity,a professionalism exhibited by line ADAs who fight to make this city as safe as possible," he said.

The conference included the U.S. Attorney's office for the district of New Jersey, the FBI, Homeland Security, and the IRS.

The charges comes after Williams announced in February he will not seek reelection after causing controversy by accepting financial gift and not disclosing them.

Williams accepted more than $175,000 in gifts and did not report them and was hit with a $62,000 fine from the city's ethics board back in January.

"For this i will always hold deep regret in my heart," Williams said in his February announcement. "To those who have served, to those who serve today, and to those who will serve in the future: I offer my deepest and sincere apologies."

Williams said the remainder of his time in office will be spent earning back the public's trust that he said he lost.

Image via City of Philadelphia