Month: April 2023

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Texas Man Sentenced for Assault on Law Enforcement During Jan. 6 Capitol Breach

Source: United States Department of Justice News

Defendant Violently Attacked Officer

            WASHINGTON — A Texas man was sentenced today in the District of Columbia on felony and misdemeanor charges for his actions during the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol breach. 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.

            Robert Wayne Dennis, 63, of Garland, TX, was sentenced to 36 months in prison for civil disorder, two counts of assaulting, resisting or impeding certain officers, and the misdemeanor charges of of engaging in physical violence in a restricted building or grounds; entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds; and act of physical violence in the Capitol grounds or buildings. Dennis was found guilty on January 13, 2023, following a bench trial before U.S. District Court Judge James E. Boasberg. In addition to the prison term, Dennis was ordered to pay $2,000 restitution and serve 24 months of supervised release.

            According to evidence presented at trial, Dennis was captured on video on January 6 on the Upper West Terrace of the Capitol during the ongoing riot.  Metropolitan Police Department officers had formed a police line on top of a set of stairs to act as a barrier against the crowd and prevent further breaches of the Capitol Building. At approximately 2:51 p.m., Dennis deliberately ascended the stairs and assaulted this line of officers. One officer, identified in court documents as “Officer C.W.,” attempted to use a baton to push him away. Dennis then attacked the officers again, engaging in a violent struggle with “Officer J.S.” in which Dennis threw punches at Officer J.S. while Officer J.S. was on the ground.  Dennis was convicted of assaulting both Officer C.W. and Officer J.S. 

            Dennis was arrested on October 20, 2021, in Texas.

           This case was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas U.S.

            The case was investigated by the FBI’s Dallas Field Office, as well as the FBI’s Washington Field Office. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Capitol Police.           

            In the 27 months since Jan. 6, 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.

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Florida Man Sentenced on Felony Charge for Actions During Jan. 6 Capitol Breach

Source: United States Department of Justice News

            WASHINGTON – A Florida man was sentenced today for a felony charge 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 2020 presidential election.

            Howard Adams, 62, of Edgewater, Florida, was sentenced to eight months in prison for interfering with law enforcement officers during a civil disorder. Adams pleaded guilty, on January 26, 2023, in the District of Columbia. In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Court Judge Beryl A. Howell ordered 36 months of supervised release, restitution of $2,000, and a $2,000 fine.

            According to court documents, at approximately 1:53 p.m on Jan. 6, 2021, Adams unlawfully approached the U.S. Capitol across the east plaza after rioters in the defendant’s presence pushed through a line of USCP officers. At 2:26, p.m., after the defendant had proceeded across the east plaza to the East Rotunda doorway, a group of people unlawfully pushed away police officers and entered the building. The defendant followed and then proceeded to the Rotunda, into and through Statuary Hall.

            At approximately 2:36 p.m., moments after others in the group pushed aside police officers, the defendant proceeded to the House chamber doorway. The defendant and others unlawfully in the Capitol building then amassed outside the doorway for several minutes, during which time the group chanted, “Break it down!” and “Stop the steal!” The group was unable to open the door. Several minutes later, the defendant returned to the Rotunda where he encountered multiple law enforcement members who were there to clear the room of unlawful persons. The defendant intentionally walked toward the line of officers, instead of proceeding toward the exit opposite from the line of officers. As he did so, he unfurled and raised a flag while raising both hands. At approximately 3:08 p.m., the defendant made physical contact with one of the officers as the officer attempted to push the defendant in the opposite direction, toward the exit, and deployed a chemical irritant against the defendant. As this was occurring, several other persons were behind the defendant and were surging forward toward the police line. The defendant eventually exited the building through the East Rotunda doorway at approximately 3:15 p.m.

            Adams was arrested on March 10, 2021, in Edgewater, Florida.

            This case was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida.

            The case was investigated by the FBI Washington Field Office. Valuable assistance was provided by the FBI’s Jacksonville Field Office – Daytona Beach Resident Agency, the Metropolitan Police Department and the U.S. Capitol Police.

            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.

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FBI Arrests Canutillo Woman for Making False Statements

Source: United States Department of Justice News

EL PASO, Texas – A Canutillo woman was arrested Tuesday on criminal charges related to her alleged false statements made to an FBI Task Force Officer.

Court documents allege that, Veronica Gutierrez, 41, claimed that a police officer inappropriately touched her while executing a search warrant at her residence on or about Dec. 15, 2022.  The April 5 indictment adds that she also claimed the police officer told her, this is what happens when she does not send pictures of herself to the officer.

Gutierrez is charged with one count of false statement. If convicted, she faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza of the Western District of Texas and Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey R. Downey of the FBI El Paso Field Office made the announcement.

The FBI’s West Texas Border Corruption Task Force is investigating the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Skillern is prosecuting the case.

An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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“Citizen of Springfield” beech tree in serious decline to be removed at Springfield Courthouse

Source: United States General Services Administration

April 13, 2023

BOSTON – “Trees are as close to immortality as the rest of us ever come,” American author Karen Joy Fowler once said.

But sadly, trees are not immortal, and the end draws near for one of the trees at the U.S. Courthouse in Springfield, Mass.

The Courthouse, constructed on a 2.5-acre site, was designed as a spiral around two veteran trees: a European Beech and a Linden. Both are estimated to be 200-500 years old. Local legend has it that George Washington rested beneath the trees on a visit to Springfield during his presidency. The pair of trees have been referred to as “Citizens of Springfield” for their long witness of the city’s growth and development.

The Beech (Fagus sylvatica) went into decline in 2010, showing “low vigor” in the canopy as early as 2011. For over a decade, the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) worked to protect and nurture the tree back to health. Working with professional arborists, GSA applied prescription fertilization, soil amendments, borer treatment and abatement, and phytophthora canker treatment.

However, the tree did not recover. By January 2022 the Beech was in visible distress, and a tree risk assessment gave it an overall risk rating of moderate and noted the tree was in advanced decay. Over the last year several branches have fallen from the tree, and in the fall of 2022 the decision was made to remove the tree in the spring of 2023 due to the oncoming pest of Beech Leaf Disease.

“GSA recognizes that it has a responsibility to increase the sustainability of the federal government by reducing the negative impact our buildings, products, services, processes and activities have on the environment,” Region 1 Public Buildings Service Regional Commissioner and Acting Regional Administrator Glenn C. Rotondo said. “Over the years, every effort was made to protect and preserve this beautiful tree. We remain committed to doing the right thing for trees on the courthouse grounds.”

While no date has been set for the Beech’s removal, GSA anticipates that it will be removed in May. Once removed, GSA will work with landscape architects and/or artists to continue the story of the Springfield Courthouse. Working with stakeholders, the government team will select a scheme that will preserve the design intent, respond to local climate conditions, and be sensitive to the surviving Linden tree and local community.

The memory of the trees will live on through Ann Brauer’s quilts, Hills, Fields, River and Two Trees: Scenes from Western Massachusetts, created under GSA’s Art in Architecture program and hanging on site in the Hampden County courtroom. This piece draws on the pair of trees, and uses pattern and color to evoke the trees’ presence at the heart of the Springfield Courthouse.

About GSA:
GSA provides centralized procurement and shared services for the federal government, managing a nationwide real estate portfolio of nearly 370 million rentable square feet, overseeing approximately $75 billion in annual contracts, and delivering technology services that serve millions of people across dozens of federal agencies. GSA’s mission is to deliver the best customer experience and value in real estate, acquisition, and technology services to the government and the American people. For more information, visit GSA.gov and follow us at @USGSA

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United States Attorney expands civil rights efforts in 2023

Source: United States Department of Justice News

WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – Civil rights enforcement and education will be expanded in West Virginia in 2023, to include proactive efforts to ensure that people with disabilities have a full and equal opportunity to vote.

United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld announced that his office has developed a formal plan pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to ensure that public entities don’t discriminate against voters based upon disability. The ADA applies to all aspects of voting, to include registration, site selection, and the casting of ballots, whether on Election Day or during early voting.

“Voting is a hallmark of our democracy, and we want to make sure that no one is denied this fundamental right due to a disability,” said U.S. Attorney Ihlenfeld.

Ihlenfeld also announced that his office will host four community events this year to raise awareness about federal civil rights, with a special focus on the ADA, the Fair Housing Act, hate crimes, and environmental justice. These educational sessions will be held in Hancock, Ohio, Hampshire, and Harrison counties, with the first event scheduled for April 20, 2023, at 9 a.m. at the Millsop Community Center in Weirton.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Carly Nogay is the District’s Civil Rights Coordinator and is leading the community outreach efforts. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Chris Prezioso, Jarod Douglas, and Max Nogay are also assisting with the initiative.

To learn more about the district’s civil rights work, or to report a civil rights violation, go to https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndwv/civil-rights-program.