Staff Report –

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Five more Trump supporters were arrested and charged in the past week for their actions during the breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, which disrupted a joint session of the Congress convened to certify the electoral votes in the 2020 presidential election.

Two men from Florida and Illinois were arrested on felony and misdemeanor charges last week.

William Bierbrodt, 55, of St. Cloud, Florida, and Joseph Bierbrodt, 54, of Sheridan, Illinois, were charged in a complaint filed in the District of Columbia and unsealed last week.

William Bierbrodt is charged with a felony offense of obstruction of law enforcement during civil disorder, along with misdemeanor offenses of entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds; disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds; physical violence in a restricted building or grounds; disorderly conduct in a capitol building or grounds; parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a Capitol building; and willfully damaging property of the United States, according to a press release from the U.S. Department of Justice.

Joseph Bierbrodt is charged with a felony offense of obstruction of law enforcement during civil disorder and a second felony offense of assault on a federal officer or on a person assisting a federal officer. He is charged with additional misdemeanor offenses of entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds; disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds; physical violence in a restricted building or ground; disorderly conduct in a Capitol building or grounds; parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a Capitol building; and physical violence in a Capitol building or grounds.

William Bierbrodt was arrested in St. Cloud, Florida, and made his initial appearance in the Middle District of Florida. Joseph Bierbrodt was arrested in Sheridan, Illinois, and made his initial appearance in the Northern District of Illinois. William and Joseph are brothers and were arrested on July 26, 2023.

According to court documents, on Jan. 6, 2021, at approximately 2:41 p.m., CCTV footage and other open-source videos depict a man, later identified as William Bierbrodt, using his cane to break a window on the Senate Wing fire door and unlatch the locked door, letting in other rioters. Court documents state that Joseph Bierbrodt stood by with his back to the door while William repeatedly hit the window with his cane. The Bierbrodts then entered the Senate Wing through the previously unlocked door, where they and other rioters encountered law enforcement officers attempting to push back rioters and close the door.

Court documents show that after breaching the door, Joseph assaulted a U.S. Capitol Police officer by slamming the officer against a wall. The brothers and other rioters then moved further into the Senate Wing and were met again by a line of police officers. These officers deployed OC spray to prevent the rioters from advancing further.

According to court documents, Joseph then turned around and exited the building at approximately 2:44 p.m. At approximately 3:02 p.m., Joseph was photographed assisting his brother with his exit from the Senate Wing.

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 and the Northern District of Illinois.

The case is being investigated by the FBI’s Washington, Tampa, and Chicago Field Offices. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department.

Washington State Man Arrested on Felony Charges for Actions During Jan. 6 Capitol Breach

A Washington state man has been arrested on felony and misdemeanor charges related to his actions during the breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

Benjamin John Silva, 36, of Yacolt, Washington, is charged in a criminal complaint filed in the District of Columbia with a felony offense of civil disorder.

In addition to the felony, Silva is charged with several misdemeanor offenses, including entering or 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; and impeding passage through the Capitol grounds or buildings, according to a press release from the Justice Department.

Silva was arrested in Portland, Oregon, and made his initial appearance in the District of Oregon.

According to court documents, law enforcement officials identified Silva as present among the crowd of rioters resisting police lines on Jan. 6, 2021, at the tunnel entrance of the Capitol building’s Lower West Terrace. Court documents show that in open-source video footage, an individual, later identified as Silva, can be seen participating in the collective push against the police line formed in the tunnel. Additional video footage reviewed by law enforcement shows Silva at the front of the police line with a hand placed against an officer’s riot shield.

Court documents show that open-source video from the tunnel entrance show Silva as he makes his exit from the tunnel with his eyes closed and tearing, a common reaction to being pepper sprayed. An unknown individual then attempts to pour water on Silva’s eyes and face. Another individual then asks Silva, “What’s your name? Where you from?” Silva replies, “Ben Silva.” The other then asks, “What state?” to which Silva replies, “Washington State.” Silva then appears to exit the tunnel.

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 Western District of Washington and the District of Oregon.

The case is being investigated by the FBI’s Seattle and Washington Field Offices. Valuable assistance was provided by the FBI’s Portland Field Office, U.S. Capitol Police, and the Metropolitan Police Department.

Maine Man Arrested on Felony Charges For Actions During Jan. 6 Capitol Breach

A man from Maine has been arrested on felony and misdemeanor charges, including assaulting two law enforcement officers, for his actions during the breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

Matthew Brackley, 39, of Waldoboro, Maine, is charged in a criminal complaint filed in the District of Columbia with felony offenses of assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers and civil disorder. In addition, Brackley is charged with misdemeanor offenses of 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, picketing, and demonstrating in a capitol building, according to a press release from the Department of Justice.

Brackley was arrested in Waldoboro and made his initial appearance in the District of Maine.

According to court documents, Brackley traveled from his home in Maine to Washington, D.C., to attend the “Stop the Steal” rally on the National Mall.

After the rally, Brackley walked to the U.S. Capitol, arriving on the west lawn at about 1:40 p.m., where a large crowd had gathered. Brackley stood in the crowd near the Lower West Terrace, where a police line had formed to keep people from advancing towards the Capitol.

Brackley then approached a set of stairs underneath the scaffolding erected to construct the inaugural stage. Soon rioters began to climb onto the scaffolding and tore up the white tarp covering it, giving Brackley and others greater access to the stairs. Brackley and other rioters then flooded the stairs and advanced toward the Capitol.

Brackley entered the U.S. Capitol via the Senate wing doors at approximately 2:23 p.m., only ten minutes after they were first breached. Brackley then made his way to the Crypt, where a large group of rioters had assembled and were pushing against police lines. The rioters then pushed past police and further into the Crypt.

As Brackley and the rioters made their way through the Crypt toward the Senate Chambers, they were again stopped by police. Court records say that police instructed Brackley and others to “back up”; however, Brackley did not retreat and asked the officers where the Speaker of the House’s office was located.

Brackley then turned to the crowd behind him, shouted, “Let’s go!”, leaned forward, and used both arms to push through the officers before him.

Brackley then led the crowd toward the Senate chamber and was again halted by police. Officers deployed chemical spray causing Brackley and other rioters to retreat from the area. Brackley exited the Capitol building at approximately 3:05 p.m.

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 District of Maine.

The case is being investigated by the FBI’s Boston and Washington Field Offices. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Capitol Police, the Metropolitan Police Department.

Missouri Man Arrested on Felony Charges for Actions During Jan. 6 Capitol Breach

A Missouri man has been arrested on felony and misdemeanor charges for his actions during the breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

Christopher Brian Roe, 39, of Raytown, Missouri, is charged in a criminal complaint filed in the District of Columbia with five felony offenses, including assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers; civil disorder; entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds with a deadly or dangerous weapon; disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds with a deadly or dangerous weapon; and, engaging in physical violence in a restricted building or grounds with a deadly or dangerous weapon.

He is also charged with several misdemeanor offenses, including destruction of government property; disorderly conduct in a Capitol building; act of physical violence in the Capitol grounds or buildings; and parading, picketing, and demonstrating in a Capitol building, according to a press release from the Justice Department.

Roe was arrested at his home on July 18 and made his initial appearance in the Western District of Missouri.

According to court documents, on Jan. 6, 2021, Roe attended the “Stop the Steal” rally in Washington, D.C., carrying, among other items, a pitchfork, zip ties, and duct tape.

After the rally, Roe went to the west front of the U.S. Capitol building and approached a police line with the pitchfork in hand. Court documents say that Roe then pushed a police officer and wrapped his arm around the officer’s arm. Other officers then sprayed Roe with a chemical irritant, causing him to retreat from the police line.

Court documents show that Roe later moved to the Upper West Terrace, where he entered the House of Representatives wing of the Capitol. Roe moved through the Capitol for approximately 15 minutes when law enforcement officers attempted to remove Roe and other rioters from the building.

Roe shoved one of these officers several feet backward and wrapped his arm around the officer’s baton. Roe was then expelled from the building; however, court documents say that Roe reentered the building through the East Rotunda Doors with another mob and further clashed with police.

According to court documents, Roe was again removed from the Capitol only to attempt to regain entry a third time on the north side. Here, Roe rammed a bicycle rack ten times against a set of doors leading into the building.

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 Western District of Missouri.

This case is being investigated by the FBI’s Kansas City and Washington Field Offices. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department.

In the 30 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,069 individuals have been arrested in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including more than 350 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement. The investigation remains ongoing.

Anyone with tips can call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or visit tips.fbi.gov.

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