A New York man was handed down a prison sentence today for his participation in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, the Justice Department reported. Brandon Craig Fellows, 29, from Schenectady, will serve 42 months after being convicted of both felony and misdemeanor charges related to the events that unfolded as Congress was confirming the 2020 presidential election results.
Fellows, whose actions were amongst those that interrupted the joint session of U.S. Congress, was found guilty of obstructing an official proceeding and various misdemeanor offenses. According to the Justice Department's announcement, the sentence seeks to deliver justice for the chaos that ensued on that January day. His conviction came on Aug. 31, 2023, after a jury trial.
During the riot, Fellows documented his actions extensively through video on his cellphone. He captured moments outside and inside the Capitol, providing commentary as events unfolded around him. "Oh bro, we're gonna get gassed soon. I heard windows just break," Fellows said in one video, a sentiment echoing the tumult of the day. In another recording, he proclaimed, "We're at the main f— gates. They're banging it like a f— battering ram. It's f— crazy."
Entering through a broken window, Fellows paraded inside the Capitol with a "Trump 2020" flag. Not only did he trespass into restricted rooms, but he also smoked marijuana in a senator's office, according to court documents. "Man, oh man, we got pissed. We ripped it out of the hands of these police officers," Fellows declared in a livestream from the scene, his commentary highlighting the lawlessness that swept through the chambers that day.
Post-incident, Fellows flaunted his actions on social media, celebrating the fear he perceived in members of Congress. "Brought my heart joy to see these members terrified for their lives. For what they have done and are doing to this country I hope they live in constant fear," Fellows wrote, as per the Justice Department. His arrest occurred on Jan. 16, 2021, led by the FBI.
As the investigation into the Capitol breach continues, over 1,313 individuals have faced charges, and the FBI, along with local law enforcement, remains committed to holding all participants accountable. Fellows' case adds to the comprehensive action being undertaken by authorities as the country still reckons with the events of January 6.
