WASHINGTON – A Michigan man was sentenced today to five years in prison on felony and misdemeanor charges for his actions during the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol breach. 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 presidential election.
Anthony Robert Williams 47, of Southgate, Michigan, was sentenced in the District of Columbia.
According to the government’s evidence, in the weeks leading to Jan. 6, 2021, Williams posted various statements on social media, saying, among other things, that he intended to travel to Washington to “storm the swamp.” He posted numerous messages using hashtags such as #HOLDTHELINE and #NORETREAT NO SURRENDER.” He recorded videos of himself when he was illegally inside the Capitol Building on Jan. 6.
By 2:11 p.m. on Jan. 6, Williams was on the Northwest stairs outside the building. He used bike racks put into place by police officers to assist others in the mob in getting onto the stairs. Williams himself raised his arms as he scaled the railing after rioters broke through the line of officers. He was in a wave of people that entered the Senate Wing door at 2:18 p.m., just five minutes after that door was breached in the first breach of the building by rioters that day. He then went to the Crypt and was close to the front of the line of officers when rioters broke through.
Williams then went to the Rotunda, where he filmed himself making statements such as “desperate times, desperate measures.” He resisted efforts of law enforcement officers to push the mob out of the area, holding the line for his side in the Rotunda. He was one of the last people in the mob to be pushed out of that area. He was in the Capitol Building for about one hour.
He later boasted about his actions on social media. In a Facebook post on Jan. 9, 2021, he wrote, “Operation Swamp Storm veteran now lol modern day tea party. Was proudest day of my life lol felt like the founding fathers were smiling down on us in that room, and I guarantee my dad and gramps, both vets, would be proud.” In another post, on April 19, 2021, he wrote, “I was in the Capitol and have absolutely no remorse or fear in saying or doing it.”
Williams was arrested on March 26, 2021, in Detroit.
He was found guilty by a jury on June 30, 2022, of the felony offense of obstruction of an official proceeding and four related misdemeanor charges, including entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds; disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds; disorderly conduct in a Capitol Building; and parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a Capitol Building. Following his prison term, he will be placed on three years of supervised release. He also must pay $2,000 in restitution and a fine of $5,000.
The case was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. Valuable assistance was provided by U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Missouri and the Western District of Missouri.
DOJ
