Four California men have been handed down prison sentences for their roles in the Jan. 6, 2021, breach of the U.S. Capitol, which interrupted Congress as they endeavored to verify the 2020 presidential election results. In a recent report by the U.S. Department of Justice, the men, all affiliates of a Three Percenter militia, were convicted on charges including conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding and obstruction of an official proceeding.
Erik Scott Warner, 48, Derek Kinnison, 42, and Ronald Mele, 54, all hailing from different cities in California, received sentences ranging from 21 to 33 months. In addition to their prison terms, U.S. District Court Judge Royce C. Lamberth ordered defendants to pay $2,000 in restitution and undergo 36 months of supervised release. Warner and Kinnison were also convicted on charges for tampering with documents or records.
Details of the case reveal a calculated conspiracy hatched by the prisoners to disrupt the Capitol proceedings. According to the trial evidence, the men had used a chat group titled "The California Patriots – DC Brigade" on Telegram to coordinate their cross-country trek and communicate their seditious intentions. As part of a larger mob that attended the "Stop the Steal" rally at the Ellipse, they later advanced toward the Capitol, outfitted in tactical gear and armed with bear spray and knives.
The men's violent actions at the Capitol included ascending the northwest stairs, clashing against a police line, and forcibly entering the Capitol building. Their fervent cries such as "Push! Push! Push!" and "This is the storm of the Capitol," echoed amid the chaos of that day. Post-assault efforts to obscure their involvement were evidenced by Warner and Kinnison who deleted the incriminating Telegram chat from their phones. FBI's subsequent arrests occurred on June 10, 2021, bringing these men to justice for their parts in the riot.
The FBI's Los Angeles and Washington Field Offices led the investigation into these crimes, with assistance from both the U.S. Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department. These latest sentences reflect the ongoing legal consequences for those involved in the Jan. 6 events, as prosecutorial actions continue across the country.
