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October 1, 2024 - WASHINGTON— A Florida man was found guilty of felony destruction of government property and other charges related to his conduct 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.
Related: Clay County, Florida Man Indicted and Arrested on Felony and Misdemeanor Charges for Actions During Jan. 6 Capitol Breach
A federal jury in the District of Columbia found Marcus Smith, 47, of Fleming Island, Florida, guilty of a felony offense of destruction of government property.
In addition, Smith was found guilty of six 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, disorderly conduct in a Capitol building, act of physical violence in the Capitol grounds or buildings, and parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a Capitol building.
U.S. District Judge Dabney L. Friedrich will sentence Smith on Jan. 10, 2025.
According to evidence presented during the trial, on Jan. 5, 2021, Smith traveled from Jacksonville to Washington, D.C., with three other individuals to “Have [his] voice[] heard.” On January 6th, Smith approached the United States Capitol building among a large crowd of rioters. As he neared the building, Smith noticed that the barricades surrounding the Capitol had been knocked over.
At approximately 2:44 p.m., Smith entered the Capitol building via the Parliamentarian Door on the northwest side of the building after watching rioters in that location smash through the door two minutes earlier. Smith tried to advance further into the Capitol through the Brumidi Corridor but found his way blocked by a line of police officers. Finding his way blocked, Smith noticed several individuals throwing themselves against a closed door leading to Room S-131 in an attempt to break it down. Smith joined those individuals by throwing his shoulder into them at the same time that they struck the door. After several collective strikes, Smith and the other rioters broke the door open. The Architect of the Capitol later determined that the value of the damage to the door, which was part of the original construction of the Senate Wing of the Capitol and dated back to the 1850s, necessitated the door being replaced at a cost of approximately $21,000.
After breaking down the door, Smith and other rioters entered Room S-131. Smith spent several minutes inside before exiting the office and trying to walk further into the Capitol. After again reaching a line of police officers, Smith turned around and exited the building through the Parliamentarian Door at approximately 2:50 p.m. As a result of Smith’s actions and in addition to the damage done to the door, police officers then had to spend several minutes clearing rioters from S-131 to prevent them from being able to move further into the building.
The FBI arrested Smith on Jan. 26, 2024, in Fleming Island.
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 Office for the Middle District of Florida.
This case is being investigated by the FBI’s Jacksonville and Washington Field Offices, as well as the Joint Terrorism Task Force. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department.
In the 44 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,504 individuals have been charged in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including more than 560 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
