Rochester Man Pleads Guilty to Assaulting Federal Officers

ROCHESTER, N.Y. – In a shocking display of lawlessness, JohnMichael Santiago, a 24-year-old Rochester resident, pleaded guilty to civil disorder and assaulting a federal officer. The charges against Santiago carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.

According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Moynihan, the charges stem from a series of violent protests that erupted in Rochester following the release of information regarding the death of Daniel Prude in September 2020. Protesters damaged property, turned over tables at restaurants, and hurled rocks, bottles, and other objects at police officers.

Santiago was part of a group of approximately 1,500 protesters who gathered at Broad Street and Exchange Boulevard, where they blocked traffic and continued to clash with police. The 24-year-old threw an ignited firework in the direction of a line of uniformed Rochester Police Department officers, which detonated in the immediate vicinity of the officers. Santiago later admitted to law enforcement that he attended the protests, brought fireworks to the protests, and threw an ignited mortar-style firework at police officers.

While in custody at the Livingston County Jail, Santiago assaulted two corrections officers, throwing a hard plastic cup at one and striking the other in the face with his fist. The officers suffered injuries, with one suffering contusions and a concussion, and a second suffering a back injury.

The plea is the result of an investigation by the Rochester Police Department, under the direction of Chief David Smith, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia, and the United States Marshall’s Service, under the direction of Marshal Charles Salina.

Santiago is scheduled to be sentenced on September 3, 2024, at 3:30 p.m. before U.S. District Judge Frank P. Geraci. His guilty plea serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of violent behavior and the importance of upholding the rule of law.