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April 25, 2024 - WASHINGTON – A New Jersey man pleaded guilty to assaulting law enforcement 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.
Gregory C. Yetman, 47, of Helmetta, New Jersey, pleaded guilty in the District of Columbia to a felony offense of assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers with physical contact before U.S. District Chief Judge James E. Boasberg. Judge Boasberg will sentence Yetman on July 22, 2024.
According to court documents, Yetman, an enlisted military police officer with the U. S. Army National Guard, traveled to Washington, D.C., on Jan 6. 2021, and attended a rally for then-President Trump at the Ellipse. After the rally, Yetman walked to the west side of the U.S. Capitol building and climbed a platform on the West Terrace. Here, Yetman was among a mob of rioters that had encircled a group of police officers attempting to defend the Capitol building during the civil disorder. An isolated group of officers struggled with the riotous mob but were quickly surrounded and assaulted from all sides.
At approximately 2:29 p.m., as other rioters continued to assault those officers, Yetman picked up an MK-46H canister containing OC spray (a lachrymatory agent capable of causing serious bodily injury), held the canister under his arm and, from within the effective distance of the spray, and intentionally assaulted the same group of besieged police officers by spraying them with the OC spray. After Yetman sprayed multiple officers for approximately 12-14 seconds, the officers retreated toward other officers and left the area.
Yetman then discarded the canister on the platform and, as he retraced his steps, held up a cell phone to take photographs and videos of the riotous mob. Shortly after, Yetman walked up to the Lower West Terrace, where rioters attempted to enter the U.S. Capitol building through the Lower West Terrace Tunnel.
Federal investigators attempted to arrest Yetman for his conduct on January 6th on Nov. 8, 2023. However, as soon as he saw the officers, Yetman first attempted to re-enter his residence and fled into the woods on foot when unable to do so. As he fled, Yetman dropped a knife and a cell phone. Investigators subsequently located multiple firearms and significant quantities of ammunition in his residence, a loaded firearm in his vehicle, and additional firearms and weapons in a storage unit. After an extensive manhunt that lasted several days, Yetman turned himself in to local police officers on Nov. 10, 2023.
The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice National Security Division's Counterterrorism Section prosecuted this case. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of New Jersey provided valuable assistance.
The FBI's Newark and Washington Field Offices investigated this case and identified him as BOLO AFO-278 on its seeking information photos. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department.
In the 39 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,385 individuals have been charged in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including nearly 500 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement, a felony. The investigation remains ongoing.
Anyone with tips can call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or visit tips.fbi.gov.
Source: DOJ Release
