October 16, 2024 - WASHINGTON— An Illinois man was sentenced to prison today after he previously pleaded guilty to 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.
Related: Cook County, Illinois Man Pleads Guilty to Assaulting Law Enforcement During Jan. 6 Capitol Breach on Lower West Terrace
Robin Lee Reierson, 69, of Schiller Park, Illinois, was sentenced to 18 months in prison, 36 months of supervised release, and ordered to pay $7,000 in restitution and fines by U.S. District Judge Reggie B. Walton.
According to court documents, Reierson traveled to Washington, D.C., from his home outside of Chicago, Illinois, to attend former President Trump's "Stop the Steal" rally on Jan. 6, 2021, at the Ellipse. After the rally, Reierson made his way toward the U.S. Capitol building, chanting "Stop the Steal" with the crowd.
Reierson eventually positioned himself in front of an established police line on the West Plaza maintained by U.S. Capitol Police and Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers. At approximately 2:06 p.m., Reierson used his back and body to push against a bike rack barrier and into the line of assembled officers. The police line began to fall at approximately 2:25 p.m., and, minutes later, at approximately 2:30 p.m., Reierson physically pushed against police officers using both of his hands and by lowering his shoulder into officers. Reierson also attempted to take hold of an MPD officer's baton.
MPD BWC and open-source video from January 6, 2021, show BOLO #433 actively engaging with officers at the police line on the Lowest West Terrace. For instance, while rioters were attempting to overwhelm officers by breaching a metal barrier on the Lower West Terrace, BOLO #433 used his back and body to push on the metal barrier that officers were holding to maintain their police line. See Image 2.
Reierson eventually withdrew from the confrontation between rioters and officers, but as he left the West Plaza, he told other rioters, "Don't stop, keep going" and "Put the cameras down, keep going."
The FBI arrested Reierson on Aug. 23, 2023, in Illinois.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section prosecuted this case. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois provided valuable assistance.
The FBI's Chicago and Washington Field Offices investigated this case. Reierson was identified as BOLO (Be on the Lookout) #433 on its seeking information images. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department.
In the 45 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,532 individuals have been charged in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including more than 571 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
