PHILADELPHIA _ Seth Williams resigned as Philadelphia's district attorney and was led out of court in handcuffs Thursday after abruptly ending his trial on federal bribery charges with a guilty plea.
Williams, who saw embarrassing details about his messy personal life and financial struggles dragged out into open court during the nearly two-week trial, pleaded guilty to one count related to accepting a bribe from Bucks County businessman Mohammad Ali.
As part of the deal, Williams agreed to resign and acknowledged that he faced up to five years in prison when he is sentenced on Oct. 24.
Despite a plea by Williams to be allowed to remain free until then, U.S. District Judge Paul S. Diamond ordered him held until sentencing and U.S. Marshals took the disgraced prosecutor out of court in handcuffs,
"I have a guilty plea from the highest law officer in the city that he betrayed his office and he sold his office. ... I am appalled by the evidence that I heard," Diamond said before ordering Williams jailed. "I simply do not credit this defendant's testimony. I do not believe him."
Asked earlier by Diamond whether he intended to follow through with his resignation, a somber Williams choked up and answered, "Humbly, sincerely and effective immediately.
"I'm just very sorry for all of this, your honor," Williams said.
At the hearing to determine whether Williams should be jailed immediately, defense attorney Thomas F. Burke argued his client was not a flight risk.
"He has no means as the court can see to go anywhere. He has no support. He's deeply in debt and he doesn't even have a car," Burke said.
Taking the witness stand to plead with a judge not to send him directly to prison before sentencing, tears welled up in Williams' eyes while discussing his daughters.
He acknowledged he was broke, saying he had "probably about $150 to $200" in his bank account.
Asked by prosecutors how he would support himself now that he's resigned, Williams said, "I've tried to figure that out. Help friends? Haven't really thought beyond that."
In addition to accepting that he could face a maximum five-year term when he is sentenced, Williams agreed to forfeit $64,878.22
While the 28 remaining counts against Williams were dismissed, he "admits that he committed all of the conduct in those 29 counts," Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Zauzmer said.
"Williams took benefits repeatedly from Mr. Ali knowing that those benefits were offered _ at least in part _ to influence him to take official actions," said Zauzmer.
Williams notified prosecutors he wanted to take the plea deal at 1 a.m. Thursday, Zauzmer said.
Sources close to the case say the deal is similar to one Williams was offered _ and turned down _ one day before his indictment earlier this year on 29 corruption-related counts including bribery, extortion and honest services fraud.
Prior to his admission, prosecutors and Williams' defense lawyers _ Burke and Trevan Borum _ spent more than an hour huddled in quiet conversation in the courtroom, while the district attorney was nowhere to be seen.
His decision came after weeks of damaging testimony in which government witnesses characterized him a shameless beggar who repeatedly turned to the money of others to fund a lifestyle he couldn't afford.
Two wealthy businessmen testified that they had showered the district attorney with gifts of all-expenses-paid travel, luxury goods and even cash in anticipation of the legal favors they might need from him.
And prosecutors had alleged that Williams delivered for them _ writing letters to throw his weight into their legal problems and promising in one instance to intervene in a drug case brought by his office.
Additionally, Williams was accused of misspending thousands of dollars from his campaign fund on memberships to exclusive Philadelphia social clubs, misusing city vehicles as if they were his own and misappropriating money intended to fund his mother's nursing home care.
