Barry Bennet Ramey, Capitol Assault, Washington D.C., 2023

WASHINGTON D.C. – Barry Bennet Ramey, a 39-year-old from Plantation, Florida, is headed to federal prison for five years after being sentenced for his violent role in the January 6th Capitol breach. The Proud Boy member was handed down a 60-month sentence after being convicted of felony charges including civil disorder and assaulting law enforcement officers defending the Capitol. This isn’t a protest gone wrong; this is a coordinated attack on American democracy, and Ramey played a key part.

According to court documents, Ramey wasn’t just *at* the Capitol; he was actively involved in the assault. Around 1:48 PM on January 6th, Ramey joined a mob of rioters pushing against a line of U.S. Capitol Police officers guarding a stairwell. He didn’t stop at pushing. The feds proved Ramey deployed pepper spray directly into the faces and eyes of two officers, causing immediate disorientation and hindering their ability to defend the building. This wasn’t a spontaneous act; it was a calculated attack on those sworn to protect the government.

The evidence paints a picture of premeditation. Ramey marched with a large group of Proud Boys, an organized extremist group, from the Washington Monument towards the Capitol around 10:45 a.m. They weren’t sightseeing. Court records show the group actively “cased” the Capitol building, scouting for weaknesses in security before launching their assault. This wasn’t a peaceful demonstration; it was a reconnaissance mission followed by a deliberate attempt to overwhelm law enforcement and disrupt the certification of the 2020 presidential election.

Federal prosecutors successfully argued Ramey’s actions weren’t isolated. His affiliation with the Proud Boys demonstrated a coordinated effort to obstruct the Joint Session of Congress. Beyond the felony charges, Ramey was also convicted of multiple misdemeanor counts, including entering a restricted building, disorderly conduct, and engaging in physical violence. The feds aren’t letting up, and they’re building cases against the organizers and participants of this insurrection.

In addition to the prison sentence, Ramey has been ordered to pay restitution to the Architect of the Capitol for damages sustained during the riot and will serve 36 months of supervised release after his incarceration. This sentence sends a clear message: those who attack the Capitol and assault law enforcement will be held accountable. But this is just one case in a massive investigation.

The January 6th investigation is far from over. To date, over 1,069 individuals have been arrested in connection with the Capitol breach, and the FBI continues to seek information and identify additional suspects. Anyone with information related to the events of January 6th is urged to contact the FBI. This wasn’t a one-time event; it was a coordinated attack, and the feds are determined to bring all those responsible to justice.