Press Release
☷New York Man Pleads Guilty to Felony Charge for Actions During January 6 Capitol Breach
Federal Bureau of Investigation ( By Press Release office)
Nov 24,2022
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New York Man Pleads Guilty to Felony Charge for Actions During Jan . 6 Capitol Breach Defendant Opened Door to Capitol , Directed Rioters Inside WASHINGTON – A New York man pleaded guilty today to a felony charge for 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 . Eric Gerwatowski , 32 , of New Hyde Park , New York , pleaded guilty in the District of Columbia to interfering with law enforcement officers during a civil disorder . According to court documents , on Jan . 6 , 2021 , Gerwatowski was at the front of a crowd just outside the Upper House Doors . U . S . Capitol Police were attempting to close these doors to prevent further rioters from getting into the building . Gerwatowski pulled open one of the doors that the Capitol Police had just closed . He then turned to the mob and yelled , “Let’s go!” and directed more rioters into the building . He then entered the building , too . While inside , Gerwatowski walked down a corridor and could be heard stating , “They’re raping kids and they’re shooting kids” to another rioter who was livestreaming . He left the Capitol after being inside for about three minutes . Gerwatowski was also interviewed on camera outside the building , stating , among other things , “the commies are trying to steal the country” and that he believed the election was stolen . Gerwatowski was arrested on Feb . 8 , 2022 , in New Hyde Park . He is to be sentenced on March 2 , 2023 . He faces a statutory maximum of five years in prison for interfering with officers during a civil disorder , as well as potential financial penalties . A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U . S . Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors . 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 Eastern District of New York . The case is being investigated by the FBI New York Field Office’s Long Island Resident Agency , and the FBI’s Washington Field Office , which identified Gerwatowski as #244 in its seeking information photos . Valuable assistance was provided by the Metropolitan Police Department and the U . S . Capitol Police . In the 22 months since Jan . 6 , 2021 , nearly 900 individuals have been arrested in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U . S . Capitol , including over 275 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement . The investigation remains ongoing . Anyone with tips can call 1 - 800 - CALL - FBI ( 800 - 225 - 5324 ) or visit tips . fbi . gov .
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