Source: United States Department of Justice News
WASHINGTON – A New Jersey man was sentenced in the District of Columbia today on five offenses, including a felony, committed during the Jan. 6, 2021, U.S. 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 2020 presidential election.
Patrick Alonzo Stedman, 35, of Haddonfield, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Beryl A. Howell to 48 months in prison, 36 months of supervised release, and ordered to pay $2,000 in restitution and a $20,000 fine.
Numerous videos and photos documented Stedman’s offenses inside the Capitol building, including footage from police body-worn camera, open-source video, surveillance footage from inside the Capitol, and texts and messages he posted to social media.
According to evidence introduced at trial, Stedman used his substantial online presence to encourage and organize other men to come to Washington, D.C., on January 6, telling his followers the night before, “Now we FIGHT!” In his own words, recorded on video later that day, Stedman said he was in the “first wave” that “climbed up the back part of the Capitol building” and “broke down the doors.” Along with two of his followers, Stedman illegally entered the U.S. Capitol shouting, “Storming the Capitol!” and “Let’s f****** go!” as he advanced forward.
While inside the Capitol for over 40 minutes, Stedman was part of a disorderly mob that overran police lines in the Crypt. Stedman entered the chambers of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and roamed the halls and offices in the Speaker’s Suite. He also took selfie photos of himself on the Speaker’s Balcony. Stedman proceeded to the main door to the House Chamber, where he yelled, “Let us in!” and “Break it down!” as other rioters banged on the door, the window of which had already been broken. When Stedman learned that a rioter had been shot, he shouted threats at officers of the U.S. Capitol Police, including, “You killed one of us? You’re done!”
After he was expelled from the Capitol building by police, Stedman recorded a video for his followers, explaining that he had “taken action” to prevent Congress from certifying the results of the presidential election and that the “rats” – as he referred to members of Congress – had “scurried into the tunnels” to escape. He posted on social media that “patriots” had stolen the hard drives from the Capitol and, “The Storm is Here.”
On Jan. 21, 2021, the FBI arrested Stedman in Haddonfield, New Jersey.
On June 9, 2023, Stedman was convicted of obstruction of an official proceeding, a felony, as well as four misdemeanors: entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly conduct in a Capitol building, and parading, demonstrating or picketing inside a Capitol building.
The 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 District of New Jersey.
The FBI’s Philadelphia Field Office and Washington Field Office conducted the investigation. Valuable assistance was provided by the Haddonfield Police Department, 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.