Illinois Man Pleads Guilty to Felony Charge For Actions During Jan. 6 Capitol Breach

Source: United States Department of Justice News

            WASHINGTON — An Illinois man pleaded guilty today to 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.

            Tyng Jing Yang, 61, of Hoffman Estates, Illinois, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in the District of Columbia to interfering with law enforcement officers during a civil disorder, a felony. Yang was arrested on Nov. 16, 2022, in Hoffman Estates, Illinois. A sentencing date is scheduled for Feb. 6, 2024.

            According to court documents, Yang was among rioters illegally on the grounds of the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. He entered the Capitol building through the Upper West Terrace Doors and made his way up a flight of stairs and into a lobby area outside of the Rotunda. He then entered the Rotunda, where he posed for photos. When law enforcement officers attempted to clear the crowd, Yang forcibly interfered by physically grabbing hold of an officer’s baton. The officer had been using the baton to push back against others in the mob.

            This case is being 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 Illinois.

            The case is being investigated by the FBI’s Chicago Field Office. Valuable assistance was provided by the FBI’s Washington Field Office, the U.S. Capitol Police, and the Metropolitan Police Department.

            In the 32 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,100 individuals have been charged in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including more than 396 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement, a felony. The investigation remains ongoing.

            Anyone with tips can call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or visit tips.fbi.gov.