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June 14, 2024 - WASHINGTON – A Pennsylvanian man was sentenced today after he pleaded guilty to a felony charge related to 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.
Anthony Nolf, 38, of Birdsboro, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to three months in prison, five months home detention as a condition of 36 months of supervised release, and ordered to pay $2,000 in restitution by U.S. District Judge Beryl A. Howell. Nolf pleaded guilty to one count of civil disorder, a felony, on Oct. 20, 2023.
According to court documents, Nolf attended the “Stop the Steal” rally at the Ellipse and afterward made his way to the Capitol building to express his frustration with the election. Nolf entered into the West Plaza and encountered protective fencing made up of metal bike racks. Here, Nolf assisted in removing the fencing by passing it back as a co-defendant handed it to him.
Nolf then proceeded to the Lower West Terrace Tunnel, where some of the most violent assaults on law enforcement officers occurred on January 6th. Here, Nolf witnessed rioters assaulting law enforcement officers. Despite this, Nolf and others entered the Tunnel at approximately 4:17 p.m.
Inside the Tunnel, Nolf participated in a coordinated “heave-ho” effort with other rioters against the assembled police line. As Nolf moved deeper into the Tunnel, he lowered his body and dropped his shoulder into the rioters in front of him in order to add pressure against the officers defending the Tunnel. Nolf is seen smiling moments later. Officers expelled the rioters in the Tunnel, including Nolf, beginning at approximately 4:21 p.m.
The FBI arrested Nolf in Pennsylvania on April 5, 2023.
This case was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the District of Delaware and the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
This case was investigated by the FBI’s Baltimore Field Office Wilmington Resident Agency, FBI Washington Field Office, and the FBI’s Philadelphia Field Office Allentown Resident Agency. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department.
In the 41 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,450 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
