Brittish “Cierrah” Williams, a reality TV star who appeared on VH1’s “Basketball Wives LA,” pleaded guilty to more than a dozen federal charges involving a variety of frauds netting nearly $446,000. Williams admitted to bank fraud, misusing social security numbers, sending fake bills for health insurance payouts, and lying to the IRS and on applications for federal loans.
Williams gained notoriety after appearing in 2014 on the third season of “Basketball Wives LA” while engaged to Lorenzo Gordon, who played professional basketball overseas. She also starred on the show “Marriage Boot Camp” — a spinoff of “Bridezillas” — on WE tv in 2016 and was hired by WHHL (104.1 FM) last year to host a show called “The Home Team.”
Prosecutors said investigators had learned Williams had been lying for years on tax returns and other financial documents. They said Williams made false statements on tax returns from 2016 to 2019, reporting that her businesses, which earned hundreds of thousands of dollars a year, only reported gross receipts of around $15,000. She also falsely claimed two children as her dependents.
During the pandemic, Williams submitted nine applications for COVID-19 relief money containing false information about income, payroll, and Williams’ criminal history. She was paid roughly $197,000 and spent much of the money on personal expenses, court documents say. She also submitted fake medical bills to an insurance company and, along with unidentified co-conspirators, received about $139,480.
Williams’ sentencing is set for Aug. 23.
