He was a ‘loved’ San Diego chef who appeared in the media. But U.S. Marshals say he’s been a wanted fugitive for 14 years
He was allegedly hiding in plain sight.
50-year-old Troy Williams was the head chef at Miss B’s Coconut Club, a Caribbean restaurant in Mission Beach, San Diego, for over a decade and has even made media appearances. But on Oct. 6, the U.S. Marshals said he had been living with a fake identity and had been on the run from law enforcement for the past 14 years.
Brian Anthony Williams, the real name of Troy Williams, was arrested on Tuesday without incident after allegedly fleeing Iowa, where he was facing charges of assault causing serious injury, first-degree kidnapping, first-degree arson, and conspiracy to commit a felony in 2012. Williams and his co-conspirators allegedly kidnapped, assaulted, and shot a woman before leaving her in a field northwest of Davenport, per the U.S. Marshals Service.
In 2013, officials added unlawful flight to avoid prosecution to Williams’ list of charges after he allegedly left the state. Since then, Williams has managed to evade police detection and has started a new life in San Diego as a chef, working his way up from line cook to head chef of Miss B’s Coconut Club.
Williams’ media appearances led to U.S. Marshals finding him
Prior to his arrest, Williams reportedly appeared on local media outlets under his assumed name while in Mission Beach. In February of this year, he was featured on Beach Bay Press for Black History Month, where he talked about his rough upbringing in Long Island City, New York, and shared his experiences with racism as he navigated the difficulties of being a Black person in the job market. He has also made several appearances on stories and segments that featured the restaurant on other outlets.
Williams, who had been dubbed the “14-year Iowa fugitive” by the U.S. Marshals, appeared as a most-wanted fugitive on local news stations in the Quad Cities, and his profile was shared on the U.S. Marshals Service Southern District of Iowa’s webpage. The agency reportedly received information on Williams’ whereabouts after he was recognized in his media appearances in September, leading to his arrest at the restaurant.
U.S. Marshal Ted Kamatchus described the arrest as a “perfect example” for those who think they have evaded arrest and beaten law enforcement. “Deputy U.S. Marshals remain resolute in their relentless pursuit of the most dangerous offenders in our society,” he said.
Williams’ co-workers left stunned
Williams’ co-workers were left shocked after discovering their chef of a decade was an alleged fugitive. The restaurant’s general manager and Williams’ former roommate, Eddie Jurado, was especially taken aback. “This is so wild, like Netflix-style wild,” Jurado told NBC. “The Troy we knew was a vegan. Straight edge. He was a good guy here, loved by everybody.”
The Managing Partner of Miss B’s Coconut Club, Pete Cich, told SanDiegoVille that the arrest of Williams had been “deeply unsettling” for the restaurant staff. “We take the allegations described by the U.S. Marshals Service seriously, and our thoughts are with the people harmed in the events described by authorities,” Cich said, adding that they would cooperate with authorities during the investigation.
Meanwhile, Williams will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals pending his extradition to Iowa. The exact date of his extradition, however, remains unclear.
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