John Subleski, Riot Act Violation, Kentucky 2021

John Subleski, a 33-year-old Louisville man, was sentenced to time served (five months) and a three-year term of supervised release for violating the Riot Act on January 6, 2021, in downtown Louisville, Kentucky.

Subleski was arrested by the FBI on February 11, 2021, and has been in federal custody since that date. He posted multiple statements to social media to incite riots and violence and later committed an act of violence by firing his weapon at a motorist around the second street bridge during a riot in downtown Louisville on January 6, 2021.

According to court documents, including the Indictment and criminal complaint, Subleski used a facility of interstate commerce, namely, the internet, Signal, and Facebook, with intent to incite, organize, promote, and carry on a riot and to commit an act of violence in furtherance of a riot on or about December 29, 2020, to January 7, 2021.

Subleski is a member and leader of the United Pharaoh Guard “UPG”, a/k/a “Loujahadeen,” a Boogaloo Bois based anti-government anti-police ideology in Louisville, Kentucky. In a series of social media posts, Subleski incited violence and rioting, including posts that read, “Just thinking of how they’ve treated us, protectors of the people, as evil…Makes me wanna show them how evil we can be. I no longer care for nor do I want a peaceful resolution or revolution…I want [drop of blood emoji.].”

On January 6, 2021, riots were occurring in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C. Subleski posted in response to events occurring in the Nation’s capital, to a Facebook Account posts inciting, promoting, and encouraging a riot in Louisville, Kentucky. At 12:02 p.m. on January 6, 2021, Subleski posted to his Facebook account, “Those of you afraid to [B]OOG because “What if we die?” Well what if we f——g live? get out there, do something!”

Subleski’s actions led to a riot in downtown Louisville, where a motorist was surrounded by rioters, including UPG members, at 2nd and W. Broadway. A member of UPG pointed weapons at a driver in a car and damaged his vehicle with a metal trash can when the driver attempted to leave. The incident resulted in more than 20 persons, including Subleski, assembling at 2nd and Main Street closing traffic on main street and to and from Indiana on the 2nd Street Bridge and began rioting by engaging in acts of violence that constituted a clear and present danger to the community.

Subleski’s actions were a clear violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2101, which prohibits inciting, participating, and committing an act of violence such as discharging a firearm. His sentence serves as a reminder of the consequences of inciting violence and rioting in our communities.

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