Source: United States Department of Justice News
WASHINGTON – A Virginia 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.
Hatchet Speed, 42, of Vienna, Virginia, was sentenced to 48 months in prison for obstruction of an official proceeding, entering and remaining in a restricted building, disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building, disorderly conduct in a Capitol building, and parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a Capitol building. Speed was found guilty on March 21, 2023. In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Court Judge Trevor N. McFadden ordered 36 months of supervised release and a fine of $10,000 and restitution of $2,000.
According to court documents, on Jan. 6, 2021, Speed drove to Washington, D.C., from his residence in Virginia. Over text, he had touted his residence as a “Suburban Environment, but close enough to the city for those days when I just wanna be part of a riot.” After attending the “Stop the Steal” rally at the Ellipse, Speed traveled to the U.S. Capitol, where he observed toppled fencing as he entered Capitol Grounds. He arrived at the West Plaza, near the Lower West Terrace, by approximately 1:30 p.m. Speed then climbed the stairs and reached the Northwest Courtyard. At the Northwest Courtyard, he saw a rioter use a large crowbar to break into an emergency exit door near the Senate Parliamentarian’s Office. Speed also learned that Vice President Mike Pence had “validated” certain ballots he considered “invalid.” To Speed, Pence’s act was a betrayal. No longer content to stay outside, he said, “I was like, ‘I’m going in there. Like I have no respect for people in this building. They have no respect for me. I have no respect for them.’” Speed stated, “[S]o we all went in and we took control. Like, when you have that many thousands of people, like there’s nothing the cops can do…it’s impressive.”
Speed was arrested on June 22, 2022, in Virginia.
The case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. Valuable assistance was provided by U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.
The case was investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Capitol Police, and the Metropolitan Police Department.
In the 28 months since Jan. 6, 2021, nearly 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.