Florida Residents Charged in Trump Ignited Insurrection at US Capitol
On Jan. 6, 2021, dozens of Americans were arrested for the insurrection at the Capitol. The FBI is still investigating people responsible for the attacks which left five people dead and sent lawmakers and Vice President Mike Pence fleeing for shelter. Trump incited insurrectionists to storm the United States (US) Capitol to halt certification of the 2020 presidential election for Democrat Joe Biden. Democats also won control of the the United States Congress in the 2020 election.
Suspects arrested on charges federal prosecutors have filed since the January 6, 2021 insurrection are included in this list. Also listed are individuals arrested by Capitol Police and D.C. Metro Police for entering the Capitol or for crimes related to weapons or violence. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty under the US system of justice.
1. Andrew William Griswold
Residence:
Niceville, FL
Charges:
Arrested or charged on March 5, 2021. Knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds; violent entry and disorderly conduct; obstruction of justice; disorderly or disruptive conduct on Capitol
Facts:
According to the conditions of his release, Griswold was restricted to travel only in North Florida or to Washington D.C. for a court hearing, may not possess a firearm or any other weapon, must not use alcohol excessively and submit to testing for prohibited substances. No other information about his charges was immediately available.
2. Andrew Williams
Residence:
Sanford, FL
Charges:
Arrested or charged on Jan. 12, 2021. Disorderly conduct
Facts:
Andrew Williams is a firefighter and paramedic with the city of Sanford, Florida. Williams was arrested Jan. 12 and charged with disorderly conduct in the Capitol insurrection.
Williams was spotted in viral photos from the insurrection. The city opened an investigation the next day. Orlando’s WESH 2 NBC affiliate reported Williams’ attorney said: “The President and the Capitol Police encouraged despicable behavior.”
3. Matthew Council
Residence:
Tampa, FL
Charges:
Arrested or charged on Jan. 6, 2021. Knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority; and violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds
Facts:
Authorities accuse Council of unlawfully entering the Capitol building. When police stopped him, the complaint says, he pushed an officer.
4. John Steven Anderson
Age: 61
Residence:
St. Augustine, FL
Charges:
Arrested or charged on: Feb. 17, 2021. Assault, resist or impede a police officer; theft of government property; obstruction of law enforcement; entering a restricted building; violent entry to the Capitol.
Facts:
Court records state Anderson had dramatic exchanges with U.S. Capitol Police officers. Officers eventually took him for medical assistance after he told them he was on the verge of collapse from pepper spray while he and other insurrectionists tried to force their way into the Capitol.
Capitol police originally arrested Anderson on Jan. 6, 2021. The Department of Justice filed new charges in mid-February. The FBI stated Anderson was in a crowd of people trying to push through a passageway at the lower west terrace door around 2:48 p.m. when “a large cloud of spray” was dispensed. Video footage shows Anderson grab a riot shield from an officer and pass it into the crowd and then on video helping pass a second shield into the crowd according to court documents. Body camera footage then captured exchanges between Anderson and officers. One officer threatened to spray Anderson unless he released the shield he was using to protect himself. In a second incident, an officer ordered the crowd to back up and told Anderson to stand up. Anderson responded that he couldn’t go anywhere. The FBI stated the audio captured Anderson saying he had asthma and couldn’t breathe. The FBI indicated the officer told him the officers had to establish a line and then he would call an ambulance. Then an officer brought Anderson through the doors and footage captured him being assisted through a crowd of officers.
The Florida Times-Union reported Anderson was fully shackled when led into a courtroom in Jacksonville on Feb. 25. Public records show Anderson is the president of a Florida corporation formed in December called Emergency Meals and Provisions. Anderson has been associated with automotive repair companies and coating distributors.
5. Tristan Chandler Stevens
Age: 25
Residence:
Pensacola, FL
Charges:
Arrested or charged on Feb. 5, 2021. Forcibly assaulting, resisting, or impeding officers or employees; knowingly entering a restricted building; violent entry and disorderly conduct; disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building.
Facts:
While a crowd of rioters battled police officers to force their way into the Capitol, Stevens held up his fingers and counted off to let the crowd know when to surge. He was yelling and placed first one, then two, then three fingers into the air, prompting the group to surge forward, the FBI stated in court documents. Stevens continued a few times until someone at the front urged the crowd to back up again according to the FBI. At one juncture, documents say Stevens grabbed a police riot shield being passed among the rioters and used it to push his way to the front of the line and then to push against a line of officers. The FBI stated three separate witnesses identified Stevens.
6. Nicholes Lentz
Age: 41
Residence:
Boynton Beach, FL
Charges
Arrested or charged on Feb. 21, 2021. Entering a restricted building or grounds; disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds.
Facts:
Trump supporter Lentz reportedly streamed live on Facebook during the Capitol insurrection. He also posted on Facebook: “America has spoken. You cannot stop millions of people. Cannot stop it. Can’t. It’s impossible. America has a voice. We give them the power.”
“We’re not here to hurt any cops of course,” added the former police officer and Marine Corps veteran. “I love my boys in blue, but this is overwhelming for them. There’s no way they can hold us back.”
Lentz told an FBI agent in an interview that he had no intention of committing violence or destroying anything, and said he didn’t, according to a charging affidavit by the FBI. “He added he felt obligated to help control the crowd, believing the crowd was more likely to listen to him than a uniformed officer.”
Lentz made national news in 2015 for rescuing a mother and baby from floodwaters.
7. Paul Allard Hodgkins
Residence:
Tampa, FL
Charges:
Arrested or charged on Feb. 19, 2021. Obstructing or impeding any official proceeding and aiding and abetting; knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority and impeding or disrupting official functions; violent entry and disorderly conduct in Capitol buildings
Facts:
Hodgkins was in the Senate chamber at the same time as Jacob Chansley, who wore the furry, horned hat and face paint and is captured in a selfie Hodgkin’s took, according to the criminal complaint. Hodgkins wore a Trump sweater and carried a large red Trump 2020 flag.
In an interview with the FBI, Hodgkins said he traveled alone by bus from Florida to D.C. When he entered the Capitol, Hodgkins told the FBI he saw other people breaking windows and engaged in a knife fight but did not participate and didn’t know them.
8. Kelly Meggs
Age: 52
Residence:
Dunnellon, FL
Charges:
Arrested or charged on Feb. 17, 2021. Aiding and abetting; conspiracy; destruction of government property; obstruction of an official proceeding; and entering a restricted building or grounds
Facts:
Leader of the Oath Keepers in Florida, Meggs is one of nine people the FBI says are affiliated with the Oath Keepers and who were indicted on charges related to the Capitol riot. The Department of Justice said that Meggs posted the following on Facebook in December: “Trump said It’s gonna be wild!!!!!!! It’s gonna be wild!!!!!!! He wants us to make it WILD that’s what he’s saying. He called us all to the Capitol and wants us to make it wild!!! Sir Yes Sir!!! Gentlemen we are heading to DC pack your s***!!” He added: “We will have at least 50–100 OK there.”
In planning for Jan. 6, the DOJ said Meggs, like two others accused of conspiracy in the riot, said the group would not need to be armed because they would have a quick reaction force 10 minutes out that could bring in weapons if needed.
9. Connie Meggs
Age: 59
Residence:
Dunnellon, FL
Charges:
Arrested or charged on Feb. 17, 2021. Aiding and abetting; conspiracy; destruction of government property; obstruction of an official proceeding; and entering a restricted building or grounds
Facts:
Meggs is one of nine who the Department of Justice has alleged are members of the Oath Keepers and conspired to obstruct Congress and the electoral college vote on Jan. 6. Justice officials say her husband Kelly is the leader of the Oath Keepers in Florida.
Court records show Connie and Kelly Meggs stayed at the same Comfort Inn in Arlington, Virginia as Jessica Watkins, Donovan Crowl and Thomas Caldwell, also charged with participating in the riot.
10. Graydon Young
Age: 54
Residence:
Englewood, FL
Charges:
Arrested or charged on Feb. 15, 2021. Conspiracy; Obstruction of an Official Proceeding and Aiding and Abetting; Destruction of Government Property and Aiding and Abetting; Entering and Remaining in a Restricted Building or Grounds; Tampering with Documents or Proceedings
Facts:
Young is one of nine people allegedly affiliated with the Oath Keepers indicted for conspiracy and arrested. The Department of Justice alleges that Young donned paramilitary gear and joined with members of at least two chapters of Oath Keepers to march into the Capitol in a military-style formation. The criminal complaint states Young applied for membership to the Florida chapter of the Oath Keepers on Dec. 3, 2020, then later arranged for himself and others to bra trained by a Florida company that provides firearm and combat training. Florida records show Young is a director of a corporation that runs a pre-school in Englewood.
Court records show Young forwarded an email to his sister on Jan. 4 which stated that as they had done on previous D.C. ops, they would have a “well-armed and equipped” quick response force handy if necessary. The email also stated: “As always, while conducting security operations, we will have some of our men out in ‘grey man’ mode, without identifiable Oath Keepers gear on. For every Oath Keeper you see, there are at least two you don’t see.”
According to the criminal complaint, on Jan. 7 Young deleted his Facebook posts back through March 2019, and subsequently deleted his entire Facebook account. A witness told the FBI that in D.C. Young and his sister, Laura Young Steele, stated they were members of the Oath Keepers in D.C. to provide security at the Capitol.
11. Adam Avery Honeycutt
Age: 39
Residence:
Orange Park, FL
Charges:
Arrested or charged on Feb. 11, 2021. Knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority; violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds
Facts:
A tipster reported Honeycutt to the FBI the day after the riot, saying Honeycutt, a bail bondsman, had posted a photo on Facebook he had taken inside the Capitol, the FBI stated in a complaint. Another tipster downloaded a video Honeycutt had posted to social media. In one caption, he posted a selfie and said “Well, made it in.”
In a later post, Honeycutt stated he was not with the rioters or part of the violence. “I just documented history,” he said. However, the FBI argued that post was an attempt by Honeycutt to downplay or hide his involvement.
12. Steve Omar (Emilio) Maldonado
Age: 40
Residence:
Palm Bay, FL
Charges:
Arrested or charged on Feb. 10, 2021. Entering restricted building or grounds; violent entry or disorderly conduct; and parade, demonstrate, or picket on Capitol grounds.
Facts:
People who knew Maldonado recognized him in video clips and photos of the rioters inside the Capitol and one of them reported that identification to the FBI. Agents compared the name to photos available on Maldonado’s social media and photos they’d distributed from inside the Capitol. Maldonado is seen with a large blue Trump flag on a pole and a white ball cap.
Maldonado told the FBI that he and a friend attended the Stop the Steal rally, and that he had entered the Capitol through a door. According to WESH 2 News in Orlando, Maldonado was arrested at Orlando International Airport as he was boarding a flight with his girlfriend to visit family in Puerto Rico.
13. Michael Stepakoff
Age: 55
Residence:
Palm Harbor, FL
Charges:
Arrested or charged on Jan. 29, 2021. Knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority; knowingly engages in disorderly or disruptive conduct in an restricted building or grounds; violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds
Facts:
Stepakoff is a Messianic rabbi from Palm Harbor, Florida, the Tampa Bay Times reported.
A witness who has known Stepakoff for roughly 20 years confirmed his identity in surveillance footage from inside the Capitol according to court records. The FBI also collected social media posts from Stepakoff’s Facebook page, which included a selfie of him outside the Capitol.
Court records state that in a Facebook post from Jan. 6, Stepakoff’s spouse wrote, “Update on Michael y’all…please continue to prayers for his protection and to be safe. He texted me privately and said he is okay but it’s very dangerous where he is- He was inside the Capital Building…” A second witness spoke with Stepakoff the evening of Jan. 6 and told the FBI that Stepakoff confirmed he had entered the Capitol earlier that day.
14. Dana Winn
Arrested or charged on Jan. 26, 2021
Residence:
Middleburg, FL
Charges:
Arrested or charged on Jan. 26, 2021. Unlawful entry in a restricted building or grounds; and violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds.
Facts:
Dana Winn and his girlfriend Rachael Pert, whose Facebook profiles say they are from Sarasota, Florida, posted video on the social media site as they were getting on the highway on Jan. 5 to drive to the nation’s capital. In a video, Winn said as “American patriots,” it was time to make a stand,” according to an FBI statement. He continued: “I never really knew how deep and corrupt all this crap was and how far back it’s gone.” Court records show a Jan. 19 search of their residences turned up clothing and a Trump 2020 flag similar to clothing they were wearing in a Getty Images photo taken in the Capitol. Both said no one instructed them not to enter the Capitol building. Court records show a search of Winn’s home also found the flagpole he was carrying in the photo.
15. Rachael Pert
Residence:
Middleburg, FL
Charges:
Arrested or charged on Jan. 26, 2021. Unlawful entry in a restricted building or grounds; and violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds.
Facts:
Rachael Pert and her boyfriend Dana Winn documented their trip on Facebook, telling friends and family that as “American patriots” it was “time to make a stand,” according to a statement from the FBI. In one video taken in an SUV as they were getting on to Interstate 10 to head north, Winn said: “I never really knew how deep and corrupt all this crap was and how far back it’s gone,” the FBI stated. A Jan. 19 search of their residences turned up clothing and a Trump 2020 flag like clothing and a flag Pert was wearing in a Getty Images photo taken inside the Capitol, records show. The FBI said both admitted the photo was of them, and both said no one instructed them not to enter the Capitol building.
16. Felipe Marquez
Age: 25
Residence:
Coral Springs, FL
Charges
Arrested or charged on Jan. 21, 2021. Knowingly enter or remain in any restricted buildings or grounds without lawful authority; and knowingly, and with intent to impede or disrupt the orderly conduct of government business or official functions, engage in disorderly or disruptive conduct.
Facts:
A tipster shared Marquez’ Snapchat images and video with the FBI including his drive between his home in Coral Springs, Florida and Washington D.C. in his 2020 Tesla. The FBI stated the videos included shots taken at rallies in Washington and inside the Capitol, including one video of himself wearing a “Keep America Great” hat inside Sen. Jeff Merkley’s “hideaway” office.
17. Anthony Mariotto
Residence:
Fort Pierce, FL
Charges:
Arrested or charged on Jan. 22, 2021. Knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority; violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds; knowingly entered or remained in the gallery of either House of Congress without authorization; engaged in disorderly and disruptive conduct with the intent to impede; disrupt and disturb the orderly conduct of a session of Congress; and willfully and knowingly paraded, demonstrated and picketed in a Capitol building.
Facts:
A friend of Marriotto’s tipped off the FBI that they saw a photo and videos from inside the Capitol on his now-deleted Facebook account. The tipster shared a screenshot of a photo that showed Mariotto in the Senate gallery with the caption: “I’m in And there are just a few This is our house.”
According to court records, an FBI agent interviewed Mariotto by phone and he admitted to entering the Capitol but said he did so because he “was being part of history.” Mariotto told the agent he knew he wasn’t allowed in the building and “would accept full responsibility for his actions,” records show. Mariotto later met an FBI agent and allowed access to his phone, where the agent found the selfie and videos recorded in the Capitol during the riot.
Mariotto was indicted by a federal grand jury on Feb. 8.
18. Bradley Weeks
Age: 43
Residence:
Macclenny, FL
Charges:
Arrested or charged on Jan. 21, 2021. Knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority and violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds
Facts:
Five different informants offered information to the FBI about Weeks. An FBI statement attributed these remarks to Weeks as he recorded video during Capitol breach: “’We’ve reached the steps. We’ve had to climb scaffolding. We’ve had to climb ladders. We’ve had to break things to get through, but we’ve gotten through’.”
“’We’ve gotten through, and we are going to take back the Capitol! We’re taking back our country! This is our 1776! This is where it’s gonna happen! This is where Tyranny will fall! This is where America will rise! Look at this, America! Look at this!”
Photos he posted show Weeks inside the building, according to court records, and he confirmed that to the Baker County Press.
19. Joseph R. Biggs
Age: 37
Residence:
Ormond Beach, FL
Charges:
Arrested or charged on Jan. 20, 2021. Corruptly did obstruct, influence, or impede an official proceeding before Congress; Knowingly enter or remain in a restricted building or grounds, i.e., the U.S. Capitol, without lawful authority; Willfully and knowingly engage in disorderly or disruptive conduct, at any place in the grounds or in any of the Capitol buildings with the intent to impede, disrupt, or disturb the orderly conduct of a session of Congress or House of Congress.
Facts:
Biggs is a Florida-based organizer of Proud Boys events the FBI said in an affidavit. It says the group describes itself as a “pro-Western fraternal organization for men who refuse to apologize for creating the modern world; aka Western Chauvinists.” Communications sent by organizers, including Biggs, encouraged members to attend the Jan. 6 demonstration, and not to wear their normal black and yellow colors, but rather dress to blend in, the affidavit states.
The FBI identified Biggs in photos on the east side of the Capitol, and in video footage livestreamed of people entering the Capitol within 20 seconds after a window was broken and a door was opened from the inside. In a video, someone asks: “Hey Biggs, what do you gotta say?” The person the FBI identified as Biggs says “This is awesome!” The affidavit is among several that describe walkie-talkie style communication devices used by some of the rioters.
20. Jesus Rivera
J.D. Rivera, Jesus Delmora Rivera
Residence:
Pensacola, FL
Charges:
Arrested or charged on January 20, 2021. Knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority; knowingly, with intent to impede government business or official functions, engaging in disorderly conduct, disorderly or disruptive conduct, parading or demonstrating or picketing in the Capitol buildings.
Facts:
The FBI said it identified Rivera based on videos he posted via Facebook Live according to court documents. In one one video, he said: “I’m about to take my ass to the middle of the state capitol and see what’s going on.” In a footnote, the FBI explains that since he’s in Washington DC and videos placed him in the crypt of the U.S. Capitol “it’s safe to assume me meant the national U.S. Capitol.”
21. Gabriel Augustin Garcia
Residence:
Miami, FL
Charges:
Arrested or charged on Jan. 19, 2021. Certain acts during civil disorder, aiding and abetting; Knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority; Violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds.
Facts:
Based on a tip from a Facebook user, the FBI found at least two Facebook Live videos uploaded from Garcia’s account from within the Capitol building on Jan. 6, according to court records. In one of the videos, Garcia turns to the camera, saying “We just went ahead and stormed the Capitol. It’s about to get ugly.” Around him, a large crowd chants, “Our house!” From the Rotunda of the Capitol, he can be seen calling for “Nancy” — presumably referencing the House speaker.
Court records say Garcia is a former U.S. Army Captain. According to the Miami Herald, he is a member of the Proud Boys and lost a race as a GOP candidate in the Florida House of Representatives last year.
22. Vitali Goss Jankowski
Residences:
Honeycutt, FL & Washington, DC
Charges:
Arrested or charged on: Jan. 18, 2021. Knowingly enter or remain in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority to do so; Knowingly, and with intent to impede or disrupt the orderly conduct of government business or official functions, engage in disorderly or disruptive conduct in, or within such proximity to, any restricted building or grounds when, or so that, such conduct, in fact, impedes or disrupts the orderly conduct of government business or official functions; and did so while using or carrying a dangerous weapon
Facts:
The FBI received a call from Metropolitan Police that a suspect involved in the Capitol riot wanted to turn himself in regarding a wanted poster that included a picture of him. According to the FBI, videos and pictures show a man with a blue jacket trying to forcefully gain entry into the Capitol building by using a taser. One officer in the area suffered a heart attack following injuries from a taser. Goss Jankowski told authorities he never went inside of the building and that he went to the U.S. Capitol out of curiosity. He denied using the taser on the officer.
23. Samuel Camargo
Residence:
Hollywood, FL
Charges:
Arrested or charged on Jan. 15, 2021. Civil disorder; knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority; knowingly engages in disorderly or disruptive conduct in an restricted building or grounds; violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds
Facts:
The FBI received a tip from a former classmate of Camargo’s who shared screen grabs from his Instagram and Facebook accounts. A second former classmate saved video Camargo posted to his Instagram story, which court records indicate place him on Capitol grounds and then show a clip at a door that supports “that this video shows Camargo actively struggling to gain entrance to the U.S. Capitol Building.”
The FBI captured a Facebook post from Jan. 6 in which Camargo says, “I was involved in the events that transpired earlier today.”
24. Adam Johnson
Age: 36
Residence:
Parrish, FL
Charges:
Arrested or charged on: Jan. 8, 2021. Knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority; one count of theft of government property; and one count of violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds
Facts:
Photos from the riot show Adam Christian Johnson smiling under his Trump cap, casually holding a lectern under his arm.
By Saturday, Johnson, 36, had been arrested and was booked into the Pinellas County Jail in Florida on a warrant from the U.S. Marshal’s office. Photos on his Facebook page, since deleted, show the Manatee County, Florida man descending into Washington, D.C., for the rally. Johnson had misdemeanor drug arrests in 2004 and 2005 and was involved in a sealed domestic relations court case from 2010.
Johnson is a married father of five. They live in a six-bedroom, 4,000-square-foot, pool home in southwest Florida.
25. Michael Curzio
Age: 35
Residence:
Summerfield, FL
Charges:
Arrested or charged on Jan. 6, 2021. Knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority; or knowingly, with intent to impede government business or official functions, engaging in disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds; and violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds.
Facts:
Michael Curzio was among the rioters arrested by U.S. Capitol Police for unlawful entry. It was not the Florida man’s first brush with law enforcement. Curzio, 35, was released from prison in February 2019 following an eight-year sentence for attempted first-degree murder, according to records from the Florida Department of Corrections.
Federal authorities are now considering charging treason or seditious conspiracy and this list is growing daily.
Source:
