Jerod Bargar, Capitol Weapon Offense, Centralia MO, 2021

WASHINGTON D.C. – A Missouri man has confessed to illegally packing heat during the January 6th insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. Jerod Thomas Bargar, 37, of Centralia, Missouri, pleaded guilty yesterday to a felony charge of entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds with a deadly or dangerous weapon. He faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.

Court documents reveal Bargar crossed state lines with a 9-millimeter semi-automatic pistol and brought it onto the Capitol grounds, where a joint session of Congress was underway to certify the 2020 presidential election. Bargar, who wasn’t licensed to carry in D.C., attended a rally near the Ellipse before making his way to the restricted zone.

Law enforcement recovered the weapon around 2:30 p.m. on January 6th on the west side of the Capitol. The pistol was in a distinctive holster emblazoned with an American flag and the phrase “We The People.” A single 9-millimeter cartridge was chambered, with approximately 15 more rounds in the magazine. Investigators later confirmed the firearm belonged to Bargar.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, along with the Department of Justice National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section, are prosecuting the case, with assistance from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Missouri. The FBI’s Washington and Kansas City Field Offices, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the U.S. Capitol Police, and the Metropolitan Police Department all contributed to the investigation.

Bargar’s sentencing is scheduled for November 3, 2023, before U.S. District Court Judge Reggie Walton. The judge will consider sentencing guidelines and other factors before determining the final punishment. This case is one of over 1,000 federal charges stemming from the January 6th breach, with nearly 350 individuals accused of assaulting or impeding law enforcement.

The investigation remains active. Anyone with information related to the January 6th Capitol breach is urged to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or submit tips online at tips.fbi.gov. This isn’t just about one man and one gun; it’s about a coordinated assault on American democracy, and the feds are still rounding up those responsible.

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