Source: United States Department of Justice News
WASHINGTON – A federal grand jury in the District of Columbia returned an indictment charging a Massachusetts man with obstruction of an official proceeding, a felony, for his actions during the breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. His actions and the actions of others disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress convened to ascertain and count the electoral votes related to the presidential election.
Mark Sahady, 48, of Malden, Massachusetts, was initially charged by criminal complaint with entering or remaining in a restricted building or grounds without lawful authority and disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds. A superseding information, filed in March of 2022, added the charge of disorderly conduct in a Capitol building. A second superseding information, filed in March of 2023, added the charge of parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a Capitol building. The indictment, filed April 5, 2023, adds the felony charge.
According to the charging documents, Sahady is the vice president of an organization called “Super Happy Fun America,” which allegedly purports to advocate for the “straight community.” Beginning on approximately Nov. 16, 2020, Sahady tweeted statements exhibiting a belief that the presidential election was stolen, and that people need to gather in D.C. on January 6, 2021 to respond. Photos posted on a Twitter account connected to Super Happy Fun America show Sahady on a bus with other individuals with the caption, “Bus 1 of 11 coming to Washington DC. See you there!”
The charge of obstruction of an official proceeding carries a maximum sentence of up to twenty years’ imprisonment, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. The charges for entering or remaining in a restricted building or grounds without lawful authority and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds carry sentences of up to one year in prison, one year of supervised release and a fine of up to $100,000. The charges of disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds and parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a Capitol building carry sentences of up to six months in prison, one year of supervised release and a fine of up to $5,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
This case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Counterterrorism Section of the DOJ’s National Security Division, with assistance from the U.S. Attorney’s Office of Massachusetts.
The case is being investigated by the FBI’s Boston Field Office and Washington Field Office.
In the 27 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,000 individuals have been arrested in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including more than 320 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement. The investigation remains ongoing.
Anyone with tips can call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or visit tips.fbi.gov.
The information contained in the charging documents are merely allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.