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Defendant Accused of Conspiring with Others to Stop Electoral College Certification
August 17, 2023 - WASHINGTON - A California man has been charged in an indictment fully unsealed today in federal court related to 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 presidential election.
Paul Belosic, 45, of Los Angeles, is charged in the indictment with felony offenses of conspiracy to commit an offense against the United States, obstruction of an official proceeding and aiding and abetting, tampering with documents or proceedings, and obstruction of law enforcement during civil disorder. In addition to the felonies, Belosic is charged with several misdemeanor offenses, including theft of government property, destruction of government property, and entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds.
Belosic is charged along with co-defendants Daniel Joseph “DJ” Rodriguez and Edward Badalian. The superseding indictment charging all three men was filed in November 2021. Belosic’s name was unsealed in the indictment today, and he remains at large.
According to court documents, in the days before Jan. 6, 2021, Belosic traveled from California to Washington, D.C. The indictment alleges that Belosic and the defendants conspired to stop, delay, and hinder Congress’s Certification of the Electoral College Vote on Jan. 6, 2021, as well as to prevent evidence from being used in the investigation of their activities. Belosic joined other rioters in the tunnel on the Lower West Terrace of the Capitol, and tried to gain access to the building, per the indictment. The government alleges that Belosic and the defendants ultimately entered the Capitol through a broken window on the Lower West Terrace, where Belosic damaged and stole government property.
Co-defendant Daniel Rodriguez was previously sentenced to 151 months in prison for his role in the conspiracy. Co-defendant Edward Badalian awaits sentencing after he was convicted of three charges following a bench trial related to his actions that day.
This case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Justice Department’s National Security Division. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California.
This case is being investigated by the FBI’s Los Angeles and Washington Field Offices, which identified Belosic as BOLO (Be On the Lookout) #102 on its seeking information photos. Valuable assistance was provided by the Metropolitan Police Department and U.S. Capitol Police.
In the 31 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,106 individuals have been arrested in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including more than 350 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement.
Anyone with tips can call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or visit tips.fbi.gov.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Attachment(s): Download Belosic indictment
Source: DOJ Release
