Texas Man Pleads Guilty to Assaulting Law Enforcement and Other Charges During Jan. 6 Capitol Breach

           WASHINGTON – A Texas man pleaded guilty today to multiple felonies and misdemeanors in an eight-count superseding indictment related to his actions during the breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. 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.

           David Rene Arredondo, 48, of El Paso, Texas, pleaded guilty in the District of Columbia to eight counts, including two felony charges of civil disorder and assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers. In addition to the felonies, Arredondo pleaded guilty to six misdemeanor offenses, including entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds, engaging in physical violence in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly conduct in a Capitol building, act of physical violence in the Capitol grounds or buildings, and parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a Capitol building.

           U.S. District Judge Royce C. Lamberth will sentence Arredondo on May 3, 2024.

           According to court documents, open-source images, videos, and U.S. Capitol surveillance footage depict David Arredondo inside and around the U.S. Capitol building on Jan. 6, 2021. Arredondo traveled with others from his home in El Paso, Texas, to Washington, D.C., and stayed in the Capitol Hill area. 

           Video footage from outside the Capitol building on January 6th depicts Arredondo physically pushing bike rack fencing against officers attempting to keep the crowd from entering the East Plaza.  Video footage also depicts Arredondo making physical contact with a police officer who was attempting to stop rioters from entering through the Capitol building doors. In the video, Arredondo can be seen grabbing and pulling the arm of a police officer who was surrounded by a mob of rioters. A different police officer can be seen being pulled away by the mob and falling to the ground.

           Additional video footage taken from inside the Capitol building depicts Arredondo entering via the East Rotunda Doors and remaining inside for nearly 35 minutes.

           FBI agents arrested Arredondo on Oct 26, 2022, in El Paso.

           This case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice National Security Division's Counterterrorism Section. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas.

           This case is being investigated by the FBI’s El Paso Field Office and the West Texas Joint Terrorism Task Force. Valuable assistance was provided by the FBI’s Washington Field Office, HSI El Paso, the U.S. Capitol Police, and the Metropolitan Police Department.

           In the 35 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,230 individuals have been charged in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including more than 440 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.