Florida Man Gets 40 Months for Capitol Assault

WASHINGTON D.C. – Raymund Joseph Cholod, 54, of Tallahassee, Florida, will spend the next 40 months behind bars for his role in the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. Cholod was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Amit P. Mehta after pleading guilty to a felony charge of assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers. The riot, fueled by election denial, disrupted the joint session of Congress convened to certify the 2020 presidential election results.

Court documents paint a grim picture of Cholod’s involvement. He wasn’t a bystander. He was front and center in the brutal fighting at the Lower West Terrace Tunnel, a key point of contention where rioters clashed violently with law enforcement. The Tunnel, built for the upcoming inauguration, became a choke point for some of the most savage attacks on officers defending the Capitol that day. For over two hours, the mob hurled objects, struck officers, deployed chemical irritants, and even attempted to steal equipment from the overwhelmed police line.

Cholod wasn’t just part of the mob; he actively engaged in the assault. At approximately 2:41 p.m., he was among the first to storm the Tunnel, quickly positioning himself at the forefront of the attack. He joined the coordinated “Heave-ho” pushing against the police line, ignoring direct orders to “stop” from officers. He even briefly grabbed a U.S. Capitol Police riot shield, attempting to overwhelm the defenders. He retreated from the Tunnel around 2:54 p.m., but didn’t disengage.

Remaining on the Lower West Terrace, Cholod escalated his aggression. Around 4:30 p.m., he picked up a solid black stick and deliberately threw it into the mouth of the Tunnel, directly at the officers attempting to hold the line. The stick was a dangerous weapon, capable of inflicting serious bodily harm. This wasn’t random violence; it was a targeted attack on those defending the Capitol.

The FBI finally arrested Cholod on November 3, 2023, in Miami, Florida. He was identified through photos circulated as BOLO (Be on the Lookout) #260. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, alongside the Department of Justice National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section, secured the conviction. Assistance was also provided by U.S. Attorney’s Offices in Florida, and by the U.S. Capitol Police and Metropolitan Police Department.

Cholod’s 40-month prison sentence, coupled with 36 months of supervised release, reflects the seriousness with which the Justice Department is treating these cases. In the 41 months since the January 6th insurrection, over 1,450 individuals have been charged with crimes related to the Capitol breach, including more than 500 facing felony charges for assaulting law enforcement. The investigation remains active. Anyone with information is urged to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or submit tips online at tips.fbi.gov.

RELATED: Glock Run to Canada: 2 Years Behind Bars

RELATED: Felon Packs Heat, Gets 6 Years