Category: US Department of Justice

Source: United States Department of Justice News

            WASHINGTON — A Michigan man has been arrested on multiple felony and misdemeanor charges, including assaulting a law enforcement officer, 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 presidential election.

            Jeremy Rodgers, 28, of Midland, Michigan, is charged with felony offenses: assault on a federal officer with a deadly or dangerous weapon, civil disorder, entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds with a deadly or dangerous weapon, disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds with a deadly or dangerous weapon, and act of physical violence in a restricted building or grounds with a deadly or dangerous weapon. Rodgers is also charged with misdemeanor offenses of disorderly conduct in a Capitol building, act of physical violence in a Capitol building or on Capitol grounds, and parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a Capitol building.

            Rodgers was arrested in Orlando, Florida, and will make his initial appearance today in the Middle District of Florida.

            According to court documents, authorities identified a man, later determined to be Rodgers, from video and surveillance footage on Jan. 6, 2021, assaulting a law enforcement officer with a flagpole. Court documents state that on January 6^th, Rodgers, carrying a blue flag attached to a wooden flagpole, approached a line of law enforcement officers guarding the entrance to the East Rotunda Door and then used his flagpole as a weapon, audibly striking a United States Capitol Police (USCP) Officer three times on the helmet. Court documents say that shortly after, Rodgers again struck down the flagpole twice more in the direction of the officers.

            Court records allege that Rodgers is believed to have attempted to use his flagpole to prevent officers from closing the East Rotunda Door and entered the Capitol building through that door at approximately 2:26 p.m.  Once inside the building, court documents allege that Rodgers walked toward Statuary Hall and the House side of the building and was observed removing a railing blocking the path of the crowd behind him, stating, “come on in.”  Court documents state that Rodgers then stood aside and shouted “USA, USA” while waving people toward the House Chambers.

            According to court documents, Rodgers then joined a crowd of rioters that pushed through a police line guarding the entrance to the House of Representatives Chambers and spent several minutes outside the entrance to the House Chamber. Afterward, Rodgers was involved in another scuffle with police, remained in the building, and paraded through the Rotunda waving his flag before finally exiting the building at approximately 2:56 p.m.

            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 Eastern District of Michigan, Middle District of Florida, and the FBI’s Tampa Field Office.

            The case is being investigated by the FBI’s Detroit and Washington Field Offices, which identified Rodgers as BOLO (“Be On the Look Out”) #242 on its seeking information photos.

            Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department.

            In the 29 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 nearly 350 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.

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

Source: United States Department of Justice News

            WASHINGTON — A Texas man has been arrested on felony and misdemeanor charges 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 certify the electoral votes related to the presidential election.

            Jeffrey David Reed, 48, of Rosanky, Texas, is charged with one count of civil disorder, a felony offense. Reed is also charged with various misdemeanor offenses, including entering or remaining in a restricted building or grounds; disorderly or disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds; entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds with a deadly or dangerous weapon; disorderly conduct in a capitol building; and parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a Capitol building.

            Reed was arrested in Rosanky, Texas, and made his initial appearance today in the Western District of Texas.

            According to court documents, video footage from Jan. 6, 2021, shows a man, later identified as Reed, taking down multiple barricades and passing through restricted areas secured by U.S. Capitol Police before heading into the U.S. Capitol building. Video footage depicts Reed physically moving the metal barricades in front of the U.S. Capitol Police line, impeding and interfering with law enforcement efforts to maintain a police line and keep rioters from crossing into restricted areas. At one point, a video taken from that day shows Reed yelling at police officers, stating, “you work for us.”

            Court documents state that based on the video footage and photos of Reed outside the U.S. Capitol building, a review of video footage from inside the Capitol building was conducted by federal authorities. During this review, authorities identified Reed inside the building, speaking on his cell phone moments after a woman was shot inside the building and exiting a while later.

            This case is being prosecuted by the United States 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 United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas.

            This case is being investigated by the FBI’s San Antonio and Washington Field Offices. Valuable assistance was provided by the United States Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department.

            In the 29 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,000 individuals have been charged in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including nearly 350 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.

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

Source: United States Department of Justice News

            WASHINGTON — A Missouri man has been arrested on felony and misdemeanor charges 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.

            Kyle Kumer, 43, of Kansas City, Missouri, is charged in a criminal complaint filed in the District of Columbia with civil disorder, a felony charge, and misdemeanor charges of entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds, and impeding passage through the Capitol grounds or buildings.

            Kumer was arrested in Kansas City and made his initial appearance today in the Western District of Missouri.

            According to court documents, on Jan. 6, 2021, Kumer was identified as being present in the lower west terrace tunnel entrance to the Capitol building. At approximately 2:56 p.m., Kumer is accused of entering the tunnel and engaging with a crowd of rioters in a concerted “heave-ho” movement against the line of law enforcement officers protecting the entrance to the building.

            At approximately 3:10 p.m., court documents say that rioters were being moved out of the tunnel by police officers, but Kumer remained. Later, rioters again returned to the tunnel, and Kumer is accused of joining in a second, concerted effort to push back against police officers protecting the entrance to the building.  During this effort, Kumer used his back to push and encouraged other rioters to push by calling out, “Let’s go! C’mon! Let’s go!”

            This case is being prosecuted by the United States 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 United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Missouri.

            This case is being investigated by the FBI’s Kansas City and Washington Field Offices, which identified Kumer as BOLO (“Be On the Look Out”) #126 on its seeking information photos. Valuable assistance was provided by the United States Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department.

            In the 29 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 nearly 350 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.

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

Source: United States Department of Justice News

            WASHINGTON — A Tennessee man has been arrested on felony and misdemeanor charges 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.

            Michael Asbury, 43, of Knoxville, Tennessee, is charged with the felony offense of obstruction of law enforcement during a civil disorder and misdemeanor offenses of entering or remaining on restricted grounds without lawful authority to do so, disorderly or disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds, and disorderly conduct in a Capitol building.

            Asbury was arrested in Lenoir City, Tennessee, and made his initial appearance today in the Eastern District of Tennessee.

            According to court documents, on Jan. 6, 2021, Asbury was present in the lower west tunnel entrance of the Capitol building at approximately 2:49 p.m. While inside the tunnel, Asbury is accused of working with other rioters to push his body back and forth in a concerted “heave-ho” movement against the line of law enforcement officers protecting the entrance to the building.

            This case is being prosecuted by the United States 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 United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Tennessee.

            This case is being investigated by the FBI’s Knoxville and Washington Field Offices, which identified Asbury as BOLO (“Be On the Look Out”) #122 on its seeking information photos. Valuable assistance was provided by the United States Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department.

            In the 29 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,000 individuals have been charged in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including nearly 350 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.

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

Source: United States Department of Justice News

            WASHINGTON – Rowena Joyce Scott, 70, of the District of Columbia, was convicted today of wire fraud, credit card fraud, filing false tax returns, and failing to file tax returns, in connection with a scheme to steal and embezzle money from the non-profit corporation she was entrusted to run for the benefit of some of the District’s economically disadvantaged residents.

            The verdict was announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Acting Special Agent in Charge Kareem Carter, of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Washington D.C. Office. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for October 18, 2023.

            The offense of wire fraud carries a statutory maximum of 20 years in prison.  The offense of  filing a false income tax return carries a statutory maximum of 3 years in prison.  The offense of credit card fraud carries a statutory maximum of 10 years. The offense of willful failure to file tax returns carries a statutory maximum of one year. All the offenses also carry financial penalties. 

            According to evidence presented in court, from approximately January 2010 through May 2014, Scott served as the president of the board of directors and manager of Park Southern Neighborhood Corporation (“PSNC”), a non-profit, non-member corporation that owned and operated the Park Southern apartment complex in Southeast Washington, D.C. Instead of serving PSNC’s charitable mission – of providing adequate, safe, affordable housing for the District’s underhoused and underprivileged residents – Scott engaged in a scheme through which she embezzled at least $125,000 from the organization’s coffers and used nearly $30,000 in additional funds to make purely personal, unauthorized purchases from third-party vendors.  All the while, Scott collected $260,000 in “salary” (about $60,000 per year), lived in the building rent-free, and used the property’s common rooms, free of charge, to operate her own ministry.  Scott failed to report all of the income she received from PSNC – legitimate or otherwise – for tax purposes.  Meanwhile, under her watch, the PSNC failed to finish renovations for Americans-with- Disabilities-Act compliant units and failed to make loan payments to the District.

           This case was investigated by IRS-CID, Assistant U.S. Attorney Kate Rakoczy, and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter Lallas. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brian Kelly and Diane Lucas, and Paralegal Specialist Sona Chaturvedi.