Image by Richard Burton from Pixabay
May 24, 2024 - WASHINGTON – A New York man pleaded guilty on May 21, 2024, to multiple felony and misdemeanor charges stemming from his conduct 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.
Troy Weeks, 38, of Greenville, New York, pleaded guilty to two felony charges, including civil disorder and assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers. In addition to the felonies, Weeks pleaded guilty to four misdemeanor offenses, including entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds, engaging in physical violence in a restricted building or grounds, and impeding passage through the Capitol grounds or buildings.
U.S. District Judge Rudolph Contreras will sentence Weeks on Nov. 1, 2024.
According to court documents, on Jan. 6, 2021, Weeks was present on the Lower West Terrace of Capitol grounds near an area known as the Tunnel, the site of some of the most violent attacks against law enforcement that day. At about 3:02 p.m., Weeks entered the Tunnel as a mob of rioters battled with police. Weeks made his way through the crowd and, after reaching the police line, turned around and called out to the crowd, “Alright! Get ready to push! C’mon!” Weeks and the other rioters then pressed in closer to police.
Court documents say that Weeks then reached his arm past another rioter, through a broken window of a door, and grabbed a can of OC spray that was in the hands of a police officer. However, the officer was able to prevent Weeks from obtaining the spray. Seconds later, Weeks came around the door and made direct physical contact with the police on the other side and pressed his body up against police and their shields. At one point, Weeks grabbed onto one of the officer’s riot shields and was sprayed with OC spray.
Weeks was expelled from the Tunnel at about 3:05 p.m. but remained in the area. At approximately 3:47 p.m., Weeks joined with other rioters in the Tunnel in a coordinated “heave-ho” push and rocking movement against an established police line defending the Tunnel.
The FBI arrested Weeks on Jan. 10, 2023, in New York.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section are prosecuting this case. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York provided valuable assistance.
The FBI's Albany and Washington Field Offices investigated this case and listed Weeks as BOLO (Be on the Lookout) #85 in its seeking information images. The U.S. Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department provided valuable assistance.
In the 40 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,424 individuals have been charged in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including more than 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
