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Michael Williams, former candidate for governor now accused of fraud, turns himself in to Hall County Jail
FCN Michael Williams Jail 122818
Former gubernatorial candidate Michael Williams leaves Hall County Jail after turning himself in Wednesday, Dec. 26, 2018 on charges of insurance fraud and false report of a crime. Bond was agreed upon at $10,000. - photo by Austin Steele - photo by FCN regional staff

Former gubernatorial candidate Michael Williams turned himself in to the Hall County Jail Wednesday afternoon on charges of insurance fraud and false report of a crime.

Williams, a state senator from Cumming, was charged by a Hall County grand jury Dec. 18 after an investigation by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

A.J. Richman, Williams’ attorney, said Dec. 26 that Williams was maintaining his innocence and was waiting to see the state’s evidence.

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A.J. Richman, state Sen. Michael Williams' attorney, takes questions in front of the Hall County Jail on Wednesday, Dec. 26, 2018, when Williams turned himself in after being charged with insurance fraud. Richman said Williams maintains his innocence but is cooperating with authorities. - photo by Nick Bowman FCN regional staff

An arraignment date has not been set yet, Richman said. A $10,000 bond was agreed upon by Richman, Northeastern Judicial Circuit District Attorney Lee Darragh and Hall County Superior Court Judge Clint Bearden.

Williams was expected to post bond and leave the jail Wednesday afternoon, Richman said.

According to the indictment, Williams is accused of “claiming that computer servers were stolen from his place of business, when in fact they were not” when filing an insurance claim to The Hartford.

In May, Williams’ campaign spokesman Seth Weathers told The Times that about $300,000 worth of cryptocurrency servers were missing from Williams’ office on Monroe Drive in Gainesville. Williams had been using the servers for his business, LPW Investments, and running campaign operations out of a separate part of the building.

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