Tennessee Man Pleads Guilty to Assaulting Law Enforcement During Jan. 6 Capitol Breach

            WASHINGTON – A Tennessee man pleaded guilty today to assaulting law enforcement during the Jan. 6, 2021, breach of the U.S. Capitol. His 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.

            Michael Tyler Roberts, 34, of Knoxville, Tennessee, pleaded guilty to a felony charge of assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers before U.S. District Judge Amit P. Mehta. Judge Mehta will sentence Roberts on Dec. 6, 2024.

            According to court documents, on Jan. 6, 2021, Roberts was among a group of rioters near the Lower West Terrace Tunnel of the Capitol grounds, the site of some of the most violent attacks against law enforcement that day. At about 3:54 p.m., Roberts emerged from a riotous mob near the Tunnel entrance and swiftly climbed on top of other rioters in order to move closer to a line of police officers defending the Tunnel entrance to the Capitol building.

            From this vantage point, court documents say that Roberts used his hands to forcibly assault the line of police officers by repeatedly making physical contact, grappling with them, and by grabbing hold of their hands and arms. Robert’s assault on police lasted approximately three minutes.

            The FBI arrested Roberts on Nov. 1, 2023, in Tennessee.

            The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section are prosecuting this case. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Tennessee provided valuable assistance. 

            The FBI's Knoxville and Washington Field Offices investigated this case and identified Roberts as BOLO (Be on the Lookout) #266 on its seeking information photos. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department.

            In the 41 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,450 individuals have been charged in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including more than 500 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement, a felony. The investigation remains ongoing.

            Anyone with tips can call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or visit tips.fbi.gov.