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
--end--
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
STANDBY: Sentencing begins momentarily in misdemeanor Jan 6 case of Matthew Mazzocco of Texas
Feds accused him of posting "The capital is ours!" on social media
In other misdemeanor sentencings last week, multiple defendants argued they were "caught up in the moment."
Mazzocco pleaded guilty to "unlawful picketing"
Feds seek 3 months home confinement. They credit early guilty plea. They flag his decision to take a selfie amid the mayhem. And they argue he knew there was "potential for violence" on Jan 6
Federal prosecutor tells judge: "Any case associated with the January 6th riot... incarceration is appropriate"
"No rioter acted in a vacuum"
She says probation "undervalues" what happened Jan 6. Probation can't be "norm"
Feds are recommending *home detention* in this case
ALERT: Court unseals Jan 6 case against Rafael and Maryann Rondon (mother and son) of Syracuse, NY
In charging documents, feds allege Rondon witnessed (and assisted) in theft of laptop computer from Speaker Nancy Pelosi office suite
* Syracuse-area. Arrest was in Syracuse
Defendants are from Watertown, NY per FBI statement (north on I-81)
Signed,
Syracuse Univ. alum
Per charging documents...... about the laptop computer, Maryann Rondon "admitted to providing gloves to a male individual to facilitate the theft of a government laptop from the conference room" in Pelosi suite
STANDBY: Two sentencing hearings in low-level Jan 6 cases are set to begin. I'm waiting to hear if either (or both) defendants reference being "Caught up in the moment" when they face the judge
That's becoming an increasingly common refrain
Danielle Doyle of Oklahoma is appearing for sentencing. Another “unlawful picketing and parading” case. 0-6 months range. Standby
Prosecutor alleges Doyle yelled at police in Capitol and went on to text someone “I literally can’t do any more Q sh**”” after. And prosecutor emphasizes Doyle entered Capitol *after* seeing damage and unrest
STANDBY: Court hearing in 15 minutes in case of Thomas Sibick. Sibick is seeking release from pretrial detention. He's accused of assaulting & stealing badge of DC police officer Michael Fanone on Jan 6
Sibick has pleaded not guilty. Court appearance IN PERSON in DC court
Sibick's attorney says Jan 6 was first time Sibick went to a Trump rally and thought it'd be his last time seeing Trump
Judge interrupts to say the case isn't about attendance at the Trump rally... but about the breach at the Capitol
Sibick's lawyer says his client has been in the "hole' for two weeks in DC jail.... *voluntarily* because he wants to stay away from other Jan 6 defendants
Lawyer alleges other Jan 6 defendants claim Sibick is too close to the jail officers