Two men have been found guilty of assaulting law enforcement officers and other charges related to the Capitol breach on January 6, 2021. Steven Cappuccio, 53, of Universal City, Texas, and Federico Guillermo Klein, 45, of Falls Church, Virginia, were convicted of multiple felony charges following a bench trial before U.S. District Judge Trevor N. McFadden. The defendants were part of a mob that overwhelmed the police in the West Terrace Tunnel, disrupting a joint session of Congress. Cappuccio and Klein, along with several other rioters, assaulted officers and engaged in physical violence, using dangerous weapons. They now face a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, with sentencing scheduled for October and November. The case is one of over 1,000 arrests made in connection with the breach, highlighting ongoing efforts to hold individuals accountable for their actions on that day.
Defendants Found Guilty
Steven Cappuccio
Federico Guillermo Klein
Two individuals, Steven Cappuccio and Federico Guillermo Klein, have been found guilty of multiple felony charges in connection with the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol breach. These individuals were part of a mob that assaulted law enforcement officers during a joint session of the U.S. Congress, which was convened to ascertain and count the electoral votes related to the presidential election.
Charges Convicted
Steven Cappuccio
Federico Guillermo Klein
Steven Cappuccio has been convicted of six felony charges, including assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers and aiding and abetting; assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers using a dangerous weapon; robbery and aiding and abetting; civil disorder; disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds with a deadly or dangerous weapon; engaging in physical violence in a restricted building or grounds with a deadly or dangerous weapon; and act of physical violence in the Capitol grounds or building.
Federico Guillermo Klein has been convicted of eight felony charges, including six counts of assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers and aiding and abetting; obstruction of an official proceeding and aiding and abetting; and civil disorder. Klein was also convicted of misdemeanor offenses of disorderly conduct in a Capitol building, and act of physical violence in the Capitol grounds or building.
Background Information
Joint Session of U.S. Congress
Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol breach
On Jan. 6, 2021, a joint session of the U.S. Congress was convened to ascertain and count the electoral votes related to the presidential election. However, this session was disrupted when a mob breached the U.S. Capitol, leading to acts of violence and chaos.
Steven Cappuccio’s Convictions
Assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers and aiding and abetting
Assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers using a dangerous weapon
Robbery and aiding and abetting
Civil disorder
Disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds with a deadly or dangerous weapon
Engaging in physical violence in a restricted building or grounds with a deadly or dangerous weapon
Act of physical violence in the Capitol grounds or building
Steven Cappuccio has been found guilty of multiple charges related to his actions during the Capitol breach. These charges include assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers and aiding and abetting; assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers using a dangerous weapon; robbery and aiding and abetting; civil disorder; disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds with a deadly or dangerous weapon; engaging in physical violence in a restricted building or grounds with a deadly or dangerous weapon; and act of physical violence in the Capitol grounds or building.
Federico Guillermo Klein’s Convictions
Assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers and aiding and abetting
Obstruction of an official proceeding and aiding and abetting
Civil disorder
Disorderly conduct in a Capitol building
Act of physical violence in the Capitol grounds or building
Federico Guillermo Klein has also been convicted of multiple charges in relation to the Capitol breach. These charges include assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers and aiding and abetting; obstruction of an official proceeding and aiding and abetting; civil disorder; disorderly conduct in a Capitol building; and act of physical violence in the Capitol grounds or building.
Actions during Capitol Breach
Illegal entry into U.S. Capitol grounds
Overwhelming police lines at west front Capitol grounds
Converging at the front of the mob in the tunnel entrance of the lower west terrace
During the Capitol breach, both Cappuccio and Klein were part of a group of rioters who illegally entered the U.S. Capitol grounds. They contributed to overwhelming the police lines at the west front Capitol grounds and subsequently converged at the front of the mob in the tunnel entrance of the lower west terrace.
Steven Cappuccio’s Actions in the Tunnel
Yelling at law enforcement officers
Ignoring commands to leave
Attempting to grab a police officer’s riot shield
Using a stolen police riot shield as a wedge to thwart police
Assaulting a police officer with a stolen riot baton
Steven Cappuccio’s actions in the tunnel were aggressive and violent. He was observed yelling at law enforcement officers and ignoring commands to leave. He even attempted to grab a police officer’s riot shield and used a stolen police riot shield as a wedge to thwart the efforts of the police. In addition, Cappuccio assaulted a police officer with a stolen riot baton.
Federico Guillermo Klein’s Actions in the Tunnel
Yelling at law enforcement officers
Ignoring commands to leave
Attempting to grab a police officer’s riot shield
Pushing against police with a stolen riot shield
Resisting police officers’ efforts to move him out of the tunnel
Similar to Cappuccio, Federico Guillermo Klein’s actions in the tunnel were characterized by aggression and resistance. He yelled at law enforcement officers and disregarded commands to leave. Klein also attempted to grab a police officer’s riot shield and pushed against the police using a stolen riot shield. He actively resisted the efforts of police officers to move him out of the tunnel.
Additional Co-Defendants
Superseding indictment
Seven other individuals charged
In connection with the Capitol breach, a superseding indictment was issued, naming Steven Cappuccio and Federico Guillermo Klein as well as seven other co-defendants. These individuals have also been implicated in crimes related to the events of Jan. 6, 2021, and are awaiting trial.
Investigation and Arrests
FBI’s Washington Field Office
Metropolitan Police Department
U.S. Capitol Police
FBI’s San Antonio Field Office
Over 1,069 individuals arrested for Capitol breach crimes
The investigation into the Capitol breach involved the collaboration of several law enforcement agencies, including the FBI’s Washington Field Office, the Metropolitan Police Department, the U.S. Capitol Police, and the FBI’s San Antonio Field Office. Their combined efforts have resulted in over 1,069 individuals being arrested for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol.
In conclusion, Steven Cappuccio and Federico Guillermo Klein have been found guilty of assaulting law enforcement officers and other charges related to the Capitol breach on Jan. 6, 2021. Their actions, along with those of other co-defendants, disrupted the joint session of the U.S. Congress and caused chaos and violence. The investigation and prosecution of these individuals reflect the commitment of law enforcement agencies to hold accountable those responsible for the breach of the U.S. Capitol and the assault on law enforcement.