Cousins Face Decades in Prison for Capitol Assault

WASHINGTON D.C. – Two cousins, Thomas Harlen Smith of Mississippi and Donnie Duane Wren of Alabama, are staring down serious prison time after being found guilty on eleven felony charges related to the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. The pair weren’t just present; they actively engaged in the violent assault on law enforcement, contributing to the chaos that disrupted the certification of the presidential election.

Smith, 44, of Mathiston, Mississippi, took the brunt of the convictions, facing nine felony and two misdemeanor counts. Wren, also 44, from Athens, Alabama, was convicted of two felonies and one misdemeanor. The feds detailed how both men traveled to Washington D.C. ostensibly to attend the rally hosted by former President Trump, but their intentions quickly turned criminal once they reached the Capitol building.

Evidence presented at trial showed Smith aggressively forcing his way into the Capitol through the Tunnel, attempting to break a window with a flagpole. He didn’t stop there. On the Upper West Terrace, Smith and Wren joined a mob pushing against a police line, holding them at bay for twenty crucial seconds. Smith then escalated the violence, kicking an officer to the ground and hurling a metal pole that struck another officer squarely in the head. He later bragged about the attack on Facebook, posting “we stormed the capitol.”

Federal prosecutors are seeking a substantial sentence for Smith, given the severity of the charges – including assault with a dangerous weapon and obstruction of an official proceeding – which carry a statutory maximum of up to 20 years behind bars. Wren faces a maximum of 8 years for his role in the assault. Judge Reggie B. Walton will deliver the final sentences on August 17, 2023, taking into account sentencing guidelines and the specifics of each man’s actions.

The case was spearheaded by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, working with the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section, and supported by U.S. Attorney’s Offices from Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida. The FBI’s Washington and Birmingham Field Offices, along with local agencies like the U.S. Capitol Police, Metropolitan Police Department, and Prince George’s County Police Department, conducted the extensive investigation that led to these convictions.

These convictions are part of a much larger crackdown on those involved in the Capitol breach. To date, over 1,000 individuals have been arrested across the country, with more than 320 charged with directly assaulting or impeding law enforcement. The investigation remains active, with the feds continuing to hunt down and prosecute those responsible for the violence and destruction that unfolded on January 6th. Anyone with information is urged to contact the relevant authorities.