Four Three Percenters from California have been found guilty of conspiracy and other charges related to the U.S. Capitol breach that occurred on January 6, 2021. The four individuals, Erik Scott Warner, Felipe Antonio Martinez, Derek Kinnison, and Ronald Mele, were convicted after a 17-day jury trial. They were charged with obstructing an official proceeding, tampering with documents or proceedings, and entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds, among other offenses. The men, all members of a Three Percenter militia in southern California, conspired and coordinated their travel to Washington, D.C., to attend the “Stop the Steal” rally. Once there, they participated in the breach of the Capitol building, along with other rioters. Sentencing for the defendants will be determined at a later date. This case is part of a broader investigation that has resulted in over 1,200 individuals being charged for their involvement in the Capitol breach.
Summary
Four individuals associated with the Three Percenters militia from California have been found guilty of conspiracy and other charges related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. The defendants were charged with obstructing an official proceeding, tampering with documents or proceedings, as well as misdemeanor offenses. The trial revealed the coordination and conspiracy of the defendants prior to the breach, their use of the Telegram chat platform for communication, and their actions at the Capitol on January 6. Sentencing for the defendants will be determined at a later date.
Background Information on the Case
The case involves four individuals who are associated with the Three Percenters militia and were charged with various offenses related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. The defendants hail from California and were part of a larger group that traveled to Washington, D.C. to attend the “Stop the Steal” rally and protest the certification of the Electoral College. The defendants’ actions disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress, which was convened to count and ascertain the electoral votes for the 2020 presidential election.
Details of the Charges
The defendants were charged with conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, obstruction of an official proceeding, tampering with documents or proceedings, and several misdemeanor offenses. These charges encompassed their actions before, during, and after the breach of the U.S. Capitol on January 6. The charges reflect the seriousness of their actions in impeding the functioning of the government.
The Defendants
The four defendants in this case are Erik Scott Warner, Felipe Antonio Martinez, Derek Kinnison, and Ronald Mele. All four individuals were found guilty of conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding and obstruction of an official proceeding. Warner and Kinnison were additionally convicted of tampering with documents or proceedings.
Evidence and Trial
Evidence presented during the trial showed that the defendants, who were members of the Three Percenters militia in southern California, coordinated and conspired together to travel from California to Washington, D.C. for the January 6 rally. They used a Telegram chat entitled “The California Patriots – DC Brigade” to communicate and plan logistics for the event. On January 6, the defendants attended the rally at the Ellipse and then proceeded to the Capitol. Their actions at the Capitol included breaking into the building, pushing against police lines, and storming the Capitol wearing tactical gear.
Sentencing
The defendants will be sentenced at a later date, to be determined by U.S. District Judge Royce C. Lamberth. The court will take into consideration the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors when determining the appropriate sentences. The seriousness of the charges and the impact of the defendants’ actions on the functioning of the government will likely be factors considered during sentencing.
Prosecution and Investigation
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. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California provided valuable assistance in the investigation and prosecution of the case. The investigation involved multiple law enforcement agencies, including the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office, Metropolitan Police Department, and U.S. Capitol Police. The ongoing investigation has resulted in the charging of over 1,200 individuals in nearly all 50 states.
Scope of Investigation
Since January 6, 2021, over 1,200 individuals have been charged in connection with the breach of the U.S. Capitol. These charges include assaulting or impeding law enforcement, a felony offense. The investigation remains ongoing, and more charges are expected to be filed as new evidence emerges.
Tips and Contact Information
Anyone with tips or information related to the events of January 6, 2021, can contact the FBI by calling 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or by visiting the tips.fbi.gov website. The FBI encourages individuals with information to come forward and assist in the ongoing investigation.
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Related Content
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia has issued several press releases related to the Capitol breach and subsequent prosecutions. These press releases provide additional information on related cases and sentencing outcomes.
Contact Information
For more information or inquiries about this case, individuals can contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. The main office is located at 601 D Street, NW in Washington, D.C. Contacts can be made via phone at (202) 252-7566 or through email.
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