A Pennsylvania woman has been sentenced to 57 months in prison for her role in the January 6, 2021 Capitol breach.
Rachel Marie Powell, 43, of Sandy Lake, Pennsylvania, was found guilty on July 18, 2023, of nine felony and misdemeanor charges, including civil disorder, obstruction of an official proceeding, and destruction of government property.
Powell was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Royce C. Lamberth to 57 months in prison and 36 months of supervised release. She was also ordered to pay more than $8,000 in restitution, fines, and fees.
According to court documents, Powell was one of the first rioters to break through onto Capitol grounds near the Peace Circle. She pushed against barricades, encouraged other rioters to attack the police line, and eventually entered the Capitol through a broken window.
Powell used an ice axe and a battering ram to break through a different window and breach the Capitol at a different location. She also used a bullhorn to instruct others on how to gain control of the Capitol.
Law enforcement authorities identified multiple images and videos of Powell during the day’s events, including instances of her using an ice axe to breach windows of the Capitol.
Powell’s actions and the actions of others disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress convened to ascertain and count the electoral votes related to the 2020 presidential election.
Related Federal Cases
- Dean Robert Harshman, Capitol Riot Breach, Washington D.C., 2021 · Kentucky
- Richard Barnett Sentenced to 54 Months for Capitol Breach, Gravette… · Pennsylvania
- Isreal James Easterday, Capitol Breach, Kentucky 2021 · Kentucky
- Frederick Powell, Unlawful Possession of a Firearm, Washington 2024 · North Carolina
- Anthony Nolf, Capitol Breach, Pennsylvania 2021 · Louisiana
Key Facts
- State: Washington DC
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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