Left: Dustin Ray Williams. Right: Williams grabbing at police officers during the Jan. 6 riots at the U.S. Capitol (Department of Justice).
A Texas man will spend nearly two years behind bars for his role in the Jan. 6 riot in which he grappled with cops and stayed inside the U.S. Capitol grounds for about two hours as they prevented Congress from certifying the results of the 2020 Presidential election.
U.S. District Judge Beryl A. Howell on Friday sentenced 33-year-old Dustin Ray Williams to 22 months in prison followed by three years probation, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. Williams pleaded guilty on July 11 to assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers.
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FBI agents received a tip in the days following the riot after Williams posted a video on Facebook describing the “TRUTH” about the riots, a criminal complaint said. He claimed he did not commit any violence or vandalism. He described the rally in which then-President Donald Trump fed his supporters lies about a stolen election as peaceful. Williams then peddled the debunked theory that the riot was “a sophisticated, orchestrated infiltration conducted by Antifa and funded by the ‘Swamp.””
But video from the Capitol showed that Williams had indeed rioted, and was easy to spot.
Williams wore a bright orange construction shirt with a name of a Colorado business he previously did business with, feds said. The shirt had the name and phone number of the business on the back, resulting in the owner reportedly receiving a slew of angry and threatening phone calls.
The complaint says video showed Williams shoving and grabbing at police officers and their shields for about 25 seconds before he was pepper sprayed. Cell phone camera footage also captured Williams “threateningly” shouting at cops “You shot an unarmed person,” and “There’s a lot more coming, m—– f——,” feds said.
Agents also noted that he was confronting people who were trying to break windows to get inside the building. In his sentencing memorandum, Williams said he “truly regrets” taking part in the riot and had never been arrested prior to the incident. He also didn’t commit a “violent assault” worthy of significant incarceration.
“Mr. Williams traveled to Washington, D.C., as many thousands of others did, to show political support,” his attorney, Kyle Wackenheim, wrote. “There is no evidence to suggest Mr. Williams traveled with the intent to disrupt the certification process or to otherwise wreak havoc. He came plain clothed and did not carry a flag. Unlike many, Mr. Williams did not come with protective gear, such as padding, helmets, goggles, backpack, or body armor. He did not carry a radio or pepper/bear spray.”
Cops arrested Williams on Aug. 1, 2023. So far more than 1,500 people have been charged in the riot including 600 who like Williams assaulted police officers. Those who still have pending cases have been asking to delay hearings as Trump, slated to enter his second term in January, has indicated he may issue pardons to the defendants.
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