DALLAS — The U.S. Department of Justice announced Thursday that a man who sold a gun to another man who used it to take four hostages in a Texas synagogue, before being shot by the FBI.
Prosecutors said that Henry “Michael” Dwight Williams, 32 pleaded guilty for being a felon possessing a firearm. According to prosecutors, Williams sold Malik Faisal Akram Arkam the weapon Arkam used to enter Congregation Beth Israel in Dallas-area suburb Colleyville on January 15th and took the synagogue’s Rabbi and three other hostages.
Williams could spend up to 10 years in federal jail. Williams has yet to be sentenced.
Williams was previously convicted for aggravated assault using a deadly weapon, and attempted possession of controlled substances. He sold Akram a semiautomatic pistol on January 13. Prosecutors stated that Williams, who was convicted of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and attempted possession of a controlled substance, sold Akram a semi-automatic pistol on Jan. 13.
Akram, a British citizen aged 44, took hostages and demanded the release of a federal prisoner. After a standoff lasting more than 10 hours, Akram’s temple rabbi attacked Akram with a chair and fled with the two other hostages as an FBI tactical team moved in. None of the hostages sustained injuries.
