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July 11, 2024 - WASHINGTON – A Texas man pleaded guilty to multiple felony and misdemeanor charges, including assaulting law enforcement during the Jan. 6, 2021, breach of the U.S. Capitol. 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.
Dustin Ray Williams, 33, of Brady, Texas, pleaded guilty to two felony charges of civil disorder and assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain offices. In addition to the felonies, Williams pleaded guilty to five misdemeanors, including knowingly 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, disorderly conduct in a Capitol building or grounds, and act of physical violence in the Capitol grounds or buildings.
U.S. District Judge Beryl A. Howell will sentence Williams on Oct. 25, 2024.
According to court documents, Williams traveled to Washington, D.C., and attended former President Trump’s rally on Jan. 6, 2021, at the Ellipse. After the rally, Williams walked toward the U.S. Capitol grounds and entered the restricted area by approximately 1:03 p.m. Williams then walked behind a crowd of rioters along the West Plaza past the media tower towards the south side of the plaza where United States Capitol Police (USCP) and Metropolitan Police Department officers (MPD) officers stood in a defensive police line.
Williams then waded through the mob in order to confront the line of officers and forcibly shoved and pushed multiple officers for a period of approximately 25-30 seconds, making direct physical contact. During the assault, police officers attempted to defend themselves from Williams and other rioters, but Williams continued to grapple with the officers and grabbed their arms and riot shields. Williams was eventually hit with pepper spray and temporarily withdrew from the front line of rioters engaged with the police.
Shortly after clashing with the officers, Williams again stood near the police line, which had become surrounded by thousands of rioters. He threateningly shouted, “There’s a lot more coming, m—f—!” While still on the West Plaza, Williams made a selfie video, which he posted to Facebook, describing that he had been “pepper sprayed” and “tear gassed.”
However, Williams did not leave the U.S. Capitol grounds but instead remained within the restricted area for approximately two additional hours. During that period, the vastly outnumbered line of police officers had retreated up to the Lower West Terrace and through the Tunnel that led into the Capitol building. Williams and the rest of the riotous mob followed, ascending from the West Plaza to the Lower West Terrace, where he remained just outside the Tunnel entrance.
The FBI arrested Williams on Aug. 1, 2023, in Dallas.
This case is being 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 Western and Northern Districts of Texas.
This case is being investigated by the FBI’s San Antonio and Washington Field Offices, which identified Williams as BOLO (“Be On the Look Out”) #520 on its seeking information photos. Valuable assistance was provided by the FBI Dallas Field Office, the U.S. Capitol Police, and the Metropolitan Police Department.
In the 42 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,470 individuals have been charged in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including more than 530 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
