A former law enforcement officer from Maryland received an 18-month prison sentence after being convicted of playing a role in the Jan. 6 Capitol breach, an event that interrupted a pivotal moment in American democracy - the counting of electoral votes from the 2020 presidential election. Justin Lee, a 25-year-old from Rockville, was handed his sentence by U.S. District Judge Trevor N. McFadden, who also imposed 12 months of supervised release and ordered him to pay $7,500 as restitution, as reported by the U.S. Department of Justice.
During his trial, evidence, including open-source video, showed Lee among the crowd at the Capitol's Lower West Terrace on January 6. His actions, such as throwing a smoke-emitting device and using a flashlight to possibly blind officers, fueled the chaos and violence of the riot, according to the Justice Department. Items like his Maryland flag gaiter-style face covering helped officials identify him as part of the mob trying to breach the Capitol and overpower the police.
Lee's convictions covered several serious charges: two felonies for assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers, and civil disorder. Moreover, misdemeanors included entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds, and disorderly conduct in a Capitol building.
The FBI's Baltimore and Washington Field Offices led the investigation that ended with Lee's arrest on Oct. 19, 2023. His identification was part of a broader campaign launched by federal authorities who distributed BOLO (Be on the Lookout) alerts, with Lee being number 533 on this list.
Since the incident over three years ago, more than 1,561 individuals across almost every state have faced charges for their actions during the breach. Among them, over 590 have been charged with felonies for assaulting or impeding law enforcement. The public is encouraged to offer any potential tips by calling 1-800-CALL-FBI or visiting the FBI's tip website.
