When you map the hometowns of defendants in the US Capitol attack, there's a big fat circle over Central & Western New York. And those New Yorkers are involved in the higher-level cases
(QUICK THREAD)
Thomas Sibick of Buffalo-area is accused of assaulting DC Police Officer Michael Fanone.. and stealing his radio & badge (and of burying the badge in his backyard in NY)
He's pleaded not guilty and a judge on Friday rejected Sibick's request for release from DC jail
Maryann & Rafael Rondon of Watertown were charged in Syracuse federal court. They're accused of helping someone in mob take a laptop computer from Nancy Pelosi's office suite.... and of stealing escape hoods from US Senate. Rondon also faces charge for shotgun in his home
Matthew Greene is an accused Proud Boy from Syracuse, NY. He's pleaded not guilty in Jan 6 case.
He's charged w/ conspiracy, accused of charging toward Capitol, crossing barriers and using radio w/ earpiece. Higher-level case
Albert Ciarpelli of Syracuse allegedly drove to DC on I-81 on Jan 5, he's accused of being near QAnon Shaman, others who were outside US Senate on Jan 6.. while taking pics on his phone. Lower-level charges. Court appearance Monday was just delayed. No plea entered per docket
Domenic Pezzola of Rochester, NY-area is in pretrial detention in DC jail. He's pleaded not guilty, accused of smashing open US Capitol window with a police riot shield
Eric Bochene of Hartford, NY had entered not guilty plea before/while seeking to represent himself as defense lawyer in case.. and filed this unique motion seeking fee structure from court. Charging $75,000/hour for legal services and $50 million each for blood or urine samples
Syracuse FBI agent investigated case of Jan 6 defendant Richard Watrous of NY. Lower-level charges. He's accused of being unlawfully on grounds... inside Capitol for 5 minutes. Feds allege Watrous saw a man take off w/ bottle of booze while saying, "I got Nancy Pelosi’s wine"
Geographically .... Central & Western NY are reasonably close to DC. I've done the drive 100 times... it's 6 hours south along I-81. But the cluster of cases is noteworthy and some of the accusations or details are unique
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