Category: US Department of Justice

Source: United States Department of Justice News

            WASHINGTON — A Minnesota woman pleaded guilty August 17 to a felony charge related to her actions during the breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Her 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.

            Victoria Charity White, 41, of Rochester, Minnesota, pleaded guilty in the District of Columbia to one count of civil disorder and aiding and abetting. U.S. District Judge John D. Bates scheduled White to be sentenced on Nov. 20, 2023.  

            According to court documents, on Jan. 6, 2021, White joined the mob that had converged on the Lower West Terrace of the Capitol building following a rally at the Ellipse.

            White was seen in open-source video arguing with rioters who were attempting to break the glass doors of an entrance. White then pushed her way toward the tunnel entrance, where a squad of Metropolitan Police (MPD) officers were preventing rioters from entering the building. As the mob chanted, “pull the cops out!” White raised her fist and cheered as the rioters forced a large flagpole into the entryway where the MPD officers stood guard.

            White pushed her way closer to the entrance, where she helped to hoist up another rioter who proceeded to assault officers. White was seen pointing and cheering as the rioter swung from the top of the entryway and kicked MPD officers.

            At about 4:05 p.m., White made her way to the lower West Terrace entrance. After losing her red cap and black coat in the chaos, she grabbed for one of the MPD officers standing on a ledge. Officers pushed White back with their riot shields and fended her off with a baton. White then grabbed one of the shields and blocked the baton with her hand.

            Minutes later, officers apprehended White, and she was escorted out of the Capitol building.

            FBI agents arrested White on March 8, 2021, in Rochester, Minnesota.

            A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

            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 District of Minnesota.

             The case was investigated by the FBI’s Washington and Minneapolis Field Offices. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department.

             In the 31 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,106 individuals have been arrested in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including more than 350 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement.

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

Source: United States Department of Justice News

            WASHINGTON – A Florida man pleaded guilty on Thursday, Aug. 17, 2023, to assaulting law enforcement 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.

            Zachary Johnson, 34, of St. Petersburg, Florida, pleaded guilty in the District of Columbia to one count of assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers. U.S. District Judge Richard J. Leon scheduled Johnson to be sentenced on Nov. 30, 2023.  

            According to court documents, Johnson, a member of the Proud Boys, traveled from his home in Florida to Washington, D.C., to protest Congress’ certification of the Electoral College vote. On Jan. 6, 2021, Johnson marched with a group of Proud Boys to the west of the U.S. Capitol around the Peace Monument. There, a group of rioters confronted United States Capitol Police (USCP) officers who were standing behind metal barricades bearing “AREA CLOSED” signs. The rioters, including Johnson, then overran the officers and barricades. Johnson then advanced on the Capitol and was among the first to enter the restricted grounds.

            Court documents say that after the crowd of rioters overran the line of officers protecting the west side of the Capitol, Johnson moved to the vicinity of the West Terrace, where a stage for the Presidential Inauguration was being constructed, and ultimately made his way to Lower West Terrace tunnel and archway. Inside the tunnel, police officers formed a line behind a set of glass doors to stop rioters from entering the building. Soon thereafter, numerous rioters entered the tunnel.

            Johnson entered the tunnel at approximately 3:15 p.m. and joined other rioters in a collective push against the established law enforcement lines, including, at times, rocking together in a coordinated “heave-ho” fashion. During this time, several rioters stole shields from the officers, which they passed back out of the tunnel.

            At approximately 3:18 p.m. and 3:19 p.m., the line of officers pushed the rioters, including Johnson, out of the tunnel. Johnson then grabbed a collapsible police baton that an officer had lost during the confrontation with rioters. Johnson posed for a photograph displaying the baton.

            Outside of the archway, Johnson once more joined a group of rioters who again collectively pushed against the officers – again at times rocking together in a coordinated fashion – in another effort to breach the police line and gain entry to the Capitol building. While outside the tunnel, Johnson helped pass a sledgehammer and canister of OC/pepper spray up to other rioters closer to the entrance. Those rioters then used the OC/pepper spray to further assault the officers protecting the Capitol. Johnson remained outside of the tunnel until at least approximately 4:10 p.m.

            FBI agents arrested Johnson on Jan. 13, 2022, in Florida.  

            A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

            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 Middle District of Florida.

            The case was investigated by the FBI’s Tampa and Washington Field Offices. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department.

            In the 31 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,106 individuals have been arrested in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including more than 350 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement.

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

Source: United States Department of Justice News

Defendant Collected District Medicaid, Food Stamp, and Public Charter School Tuition, While Living in Virginia

            WASHINGTON – Michia Pardlow, 30, now residing in Washington, D.C., was indicted yesterday on 39 counts of fraud and other charges stemming from her false claims of District of Columbia residency, from 2016 to 2020, to obtain D.C. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Medicaid benefits, and free tuition for her two children to attend a D.C. Public Charter School. 

            The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, Daniel W. Lucas, Inspector General for the District of Columbia, and Brian Schwalb, Attorney General for the District of Columbia.  This matter was initially discovered by the D.C. Department of Human Services and promptly referred to the D.C. Office of the Inspector General for investigation.

            Pardlow was indicted by a grand jury in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia on charges of first degree fraud, first degree theft, false statements, and forgery. Ms. Pardlow is to be arraigned on August 23, 2023, at a hearing before the Honorable Andrea Hertzfeld. The majority of the indicted charges are felony offenses, carrying a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years.

            According to court documents in the case, Pardlow was a resident of Arlington, Virginia, from 2016 into 2020. The charging documents allege that she submitted signed applications, residency verification forms, and other documents to the District of Columbia’s Department of Human Services and Public Charter School Board claiming and verifying District residency.  The charging documents also allege that in November 2017, she forged a residency verification letter.

            As a result, the documents allege, Pardlow was able to obtain District benefits to which she was not entitled.  Non-District residents are ineligible to receive District SNAP, TANF, and Medicaid benefits. Non-District residents who enroll their dependents in D.C. schools must apply as a non-resident and pay non-resident tuition. Court documents allege that she received more than $149,000 in fraudulent benefits.

            An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed a violation of criminal laws and every defendant is presumed innocent until, and unless, proven guilty.

            This case is being investigated by the D.C. Office of the Inspector General and is being jointly prosecuted by the Major Crimes Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Public Corruption Section of the D.C. Office of the Attorney General. 

            In announcing the charges, U.S. Attorney Graves, Inspector General Lucas, and Attorney General Schwalb commended the work of those investigating the case from the Office of Inspector General, including Special Agent Robert Partington.  They acknowledged the efforts of those who are working on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Paralegal Specialist Crystal Waddy. Finally, they commended the work of the late Bayly Leighton, former Special Assistant U.S. Attorney detailed from the D.C. Office of the Attorney General, who initially investigated the case, along with Assistant U.S. Attorney Noah Simmons, who is investigating and prosecuting the case.

Source: United States Department of Justice News

            WASHINGTON – A Central Florida man was sentenced in the District of Columbia today on five offenses, including assaulting law enforcement, related to his conduct 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 presidential election.

            Michael Steven Perkins, 40, of Plant City, Florida, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Carl J. Nichols to 48 months in prison and 36 months of supervised release.

            Perkins was found guilty on March 15, 2023, of assaulting a federal officer with a deadly or dangerous weapon and civil disorder, both felony offenses. Perkins was also found guilty of offenses of entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds, and acts of physical violence while on the restricted Capitol grounds. 

            According to evidence and testimony presented at trial, Perkins traveled to Washington, D.C., to attend the “Stop the Steal” rally on Jan. 6, 2021. When the rally concluded, Perkins marched toward the Capitol with a group of co-defendants, trespassing over the restricted perimeter that had been established, and made their way to the West Plaza of the Capitol building.

            Shortly after 2:00 p.m., Perkins helped a co-defendant in an attempt to charge and break through a police line by pushing him from behind into the line. 

            As police descended into the crowd to assist another officer, Perkins picked up a flagpole and thrust it into the chest of an approaching officer. Perkins then raised the flagpole over his head and swung it down, striking two officers in the back of their heads.

            After the police line broke, Perkins moved closer to the Capitol building and climbed up the inaugural stage, then ascended to the building’s Upper West Terrace. All told, Perkins spent at least three hours in the restricted Capitol grounds on January 6, 2021.

            On June 30, 2021, FBI agents arrested Perkins in Plant City.

            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, with valuable assistance provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida.

            The case was investigated by the FBI’s Tampa Field Office and Washington Field Office, with valuable assistance provided by the Metropolitan Police Department and U.S. Capitol Police.

            In the 31 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,106 individuals have been arrested in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including more than 350 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement.

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

Source: United States Department of Justice News

           WASHINGTON – A California man has been charged in an indictment fully unsealed today in federal court related to 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.

           Paul Belosic, 45, of Los Angeles, is charged in the indictment with felony offenses of conspiracy to commit an offense against the United States, obstruction of an official proceeding and aiding and abetting, tampering with documents or proceedings, and obstruction of law enforcement during civil disorder. In addition to the felonies, Belosic is charged with several misdemeanor offenses, including theft of government property, destruction of government property, and entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds.

          Belosic is charged along with co-defendants Daniel Joseph “DJ” Rodriguez and Edward Badalian. The superseding indictment charging all three men was filed in November 2021. Belosic’s name was unsealed in the indictment today, and he remains at large.

         According to court documents, in the days before Jan. 6, 2021, Belosic traveled from California to Washington, D.C. The indictment alleges that Belosic and the defendants conspired to stop, delay, and hinder Congress’s Certification of the Electoral College Vote on Jan. 6, 2021, as well as to prevent evidence from being used in the investigation of their activities. Belosic joined other rioters in the tunnel on the Lower West Terrace of the Capitol, and tried to gain access to the building, per the indictment. The government alleges that Belosic and the defendants ultimately entered the Capitol through a broken window on the Lower West Terrace, where Belosic damaged and stole government property.

         Co-defendant Daniel Rodriguez was previously sentenced to 151 months in prison for his role in the conspiracy. Co-defendant Edward Badalian awaits sentencing after he was convicted of three charges following a bench trial related to his actions that day.

        This case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Justice Department’s National Security Division. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California.

        This case is being investigated by the FBI’s Los Angeles and Washington Field Offices, with valuable assistance from the Metropolitan Police Department and U.S. Capitol Police.

        In the 31 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,106 individuals have been arrested in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including more than 350 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement. 

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

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