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Press Release

San Diego Trial Team Plays Critical Role in Landmark DOJ Effort to Prosecute January 6 Defendants

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of California

SAN DIEGO – Prosecutors and an intelligence analyst from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in San Diego have handled more than 60 cases — including nine trials — in support of the massive Department of Justice effort to hold accountable those who violently disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress convened to certify the results of the 2020 U.S. presidential election.

As of today, the fourth anniversary of the Jan. 6, 2021, breach of the U.S. Capitol, the Department of Justice has charged more than 1,500 individuals in federal court in the District of Columbia for crimes related to the events of that day. These cases are being prosecuted through a collaboration led by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section. Five prosecutors and an analyst from San Diego were detailed at various times to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Washington, D.C., to help them investigate and prosecute these cases.

Each San Diego prosecutor volunteered to join DOJ’s nationwide team and did so with the full support of the United States Attorney’s Office. The Southern District of California, among many other districts across the nation, provided essential assistance to these cases through the time, talents, and experience of federal prosecutors and support staff.

“We are extremely proud of our contribution to this extraordinary investigative and prosecutorial undertaking,” said U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath. “These cases hold accountable the individuals who battered, ransacked, and brought terror into the seat of our democracy. This collective effort has been vital to fortify the rule of law and serves as a reminder that armed threats, violence, and insurrection are not protected under the ruse of a lawful protest.”

Examples of trials handled by the San Diego-based Assistant U.S. Attorneys over the past three years include:

 

United States v Michael Bradley – 23-cr-0435-RBW – Michael Bradley of Forsyth, Georgia, who swung his baton at police officers as they attempted to fend off rioters during the breach of the U.S. Capitol, was convicted by a judge on August 28, 2024, of multiple felony and misdemeanor offenses, including civil disorder; assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers with a deadly or dangerous weapon; entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds with a deadly or dangerous weapon; disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds with a deadly or dangerous weapon; and engaging in physical violence in a restricted building or grounds with a deadly or dangerous weapon. He was sentenced on December 17, 2024, to 60 months in prison for his part in the sweeping violence. For further information please see https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/pr/georgia-man-sentenced-prison-assaulting-law-enforcement-and-other-offenses-during-jan-6

Side-by-side images of Bradley straddling the railing, preparing to swing his baton at the police.
Side-by-side images of Bradley straddling the railing, preparing to swing his baton at the police.

 

United States v. Michael Sparks –21-cr-87-TJK – Michael Sparks of Elizabethtown, Kentucky, the first rioter to enter the Capitol building, was convicted by a federal jury on March 1, 2024, of felony civil disorder; entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds; disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds; disorderly conduct in a Capitol building; and parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a Capitol building. On August 27, 2024, he was sentenced to 53 months in prison. Please see https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/pr/kentucky-man-sentenced-prison-felony-and-misdemeanor-charges-actions-during-jan-6.

Michael Sparks top of image
Sparks, top center, turns and waves the mob forward as he leads a group of violent rioters past the final police line protecting the U.S. Capitol building, moments before he became the first rioter to breach the building.

 

United States v. Ronald Colton McAbee – 21-cr-0035-RC – Ronald Colton McAbee of Unionville, Tennessee, who assaulted multiple police officers, to include dragging one down a set of stairs in front of the Lower West Terrace Tunnel, was convicted on all counts by a federal jury on October 22, 2023, of inflicting bodily injury on an officer; civil disorder; entering or remaining in a restricted building or grounds with a deadly or dangerous weapon; disorderly or disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds with a deadly or dangerous weapon; and engaging in physical violence in a restricted building or grounds with a deadly or dangerous weapon. He was sentenced on February 29, 2024, to 70 months in prison. Please see https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/defendants/mcabee-ronald-colton.

Ronald Colton McAbee
McAbee (a sheriff’s deputy at the time) was captured on police body-worn camera holding down the victim police officer, before pulling him down the stairs into the mob.

 

United States v. Ryan Samsel, James Grant, Stephen Randolph, Paul Johnson and Jason Blythe – 21-cr-537-JMC – Ryan Samsel, James Grant, Stephen Randolph, Paul Johnson and Jason Blythe were convicted on February 2, 2024, of various felonies, including assaulting a police officer with a deadly or dangerous weapon or while inflicting bodily injury, following a bench trial. Randolf of Harrodsburg, Kentucky; Grant of Cary, North Carolina; Blythe of Fort Worth, Texas; Samsel of Bristol, Pennsylvania; and Johnson of Lanexa, Virginia, were the first to break through a manned barrier and assault officers, one of whom suffered multiple blows to the head that resulted in a concussion and a loss of consciousness. Samsel went on to assault additional officers. On September 20, 2024, all but Samsel were sentenced for their actions on January 6. Randolph was sentenced to eight years; Grant was sentenced to 36 months; Blythe was sentenced to 30 months; Johnson was sentenced to five years of probation. Samsel is scheduled to be sentenced on February 4, 2025. Please see https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/defendants/samsel-ryan and https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/pr/four-men-sentenced-prison-actions-during-jan-6-capitol-breach.

Defendants Grant, Blythe, Johnson, Samsel and Randolph
Defendants Grant, Blythe, Johnson, Samsel and Randolph lifting and pushing a barricade into a U.S. Capitol police officer.

 

United States v. Douglas Austin Jensen – 21-cr-6-TJK – Douglas Jensen of Des Moines, Iowa was convicted by a jury on September 23, 2022, of assaulting, resisting, or impeding a law enforcement officer; obstruction of an official proceeding; interfering with a law enforcement officer during a civil disorder; entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds with a dangerous weapon; and disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds with a dangerous weapon. Video of Jensen leading an angry mob chasing a lone U.S. Capitol Police officer up the stairs to the Senate was widely circulated online in the days following the Capitol attack, and Jensen reported to the FBI that he wanted to be the “poster boy” of January 6. He was sentenced on December 16, 2022, to 60 months in prison. Please see https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/pr/iowa-man-sentenced-five-years-felony-charges-related-capitol-breach.

Douglas Jensen
Douglas Jensen led a mob of angry men chasing a lone U.S. Capitol Police officer up the stairs to the hallway directly outside the Senate Chamber, then faced off with police officers in the hallway despite their orders to leave, as Senators sheltered in place on the other side of the wall.

 

United States v. Zachary Alam – 21-cr-190-DLF – Zachary Jordan Alam from Centreville, Virginia was convicted by federal jury on Sept. 12, 2023, of multiple felonies, including assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers; assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers using a dangerous weapon; civil disorder; destruction of government property; engaging in physical violence in a restricted building with a deadly or dangerous weapon, and related offenses. Alam roamed the building and antagonized officers at the House Main Doors, then went around to a back entrance to the House Chamber as House members and staffers were still evacuating. There he assaulted officers, punched glass door panels with his fists, and once the officers moved, kicked the doors and completely removed the window panels by smashing them with a helmet. On November 7, 2024, he was sentenced to eight years in prison. Please see https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/pr/virginia-man-sentenced-eight-years-prison-assaulting-law-enforcement-and-other-charges\.

 

Zachary Alam
Alam (in fur hat) inciting other rioters, with windows he shattered visible behind him and fleeing Congressmembers and staffers visible behind the doors.
Zachary Alam view 2
Alam using a helmet to smash through window panels of the doors outside the House Chamber.

 

United States v. Jonathan Copeland – 23-cr-224-DLF – On May 8, 2024, Jonathan Copeland of Lima, Ohio, was found guilty after a bench trial of eight crimes, including two counts of felony civil disorder and one count each of assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers using a dangerous weapon; entering and remaining in a restricted building or ground with a deadly and dangerous weapon; disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds with a deadly and dangerous weapon; and engaging in physical violence in a restricted building or ground with a deadly and dangerous weapon. Copeland helped push a barricade into U.S. Capitol Police Officers at the Peace Circle, worked with others to use a massive metal Trump sign as a battering ram to push past the police line at the West Front of the Capitol, and was involved in an altercation with a cameraman. Copeland yelled at the cameraman and shoved him several times, and then a group of rioters attacked the photographer and pushed him off a ledge. On December 2, 2024, Copeland was sentenced to almost 6 years in prison. Please see https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/pr/ohio-man-sentenced-prison-assaulting-law-enforcement-trump-billboard-and-other-offenses.

Jonathan Copeland
Copeland, in the green bandana, pushing a Trump billboard into the police.

 

United States v. Joshua Black – 21-cr-127-AJB – Joshua Black of Leeds, Alabama, was found guilty following a bench trial on January 13, 2023, of entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds with a deadly or dangerous weapon; disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds with a deadly or dangerous weapon; unlawful possession of a dangerous weapon on Capitol grounds or buildings; entering and remaining on the floor of Congress; and disorderly conduct in a Capitol building. As he approached the Capitol building from the West side, Black was part of a violent mob of rioters fighting the police; he was struck by a non-lethal round that wounded his face and caused bleeding. Despite this clear warning to retreat, Black entered the Capitol building and the Senate chamber armed with a knife. On May 16, 2023, he was sentenced to 22 months in prison. Please see https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/pr/alabama-man-found-sentenced-felony-and-misdemeanor-charges-related-capitol-breach.

Joshua Black
Joshua Black sat on the floor of the Senate Chamber as rioters took over the Dias, shortly after Senators had been evacuated from the Chamber.

*All photos were obtained by the government and admitted as evidence for various trials. 

 

Updated January 6, 2025

Press Release Number: CAS25-0106-J6