Mellis is being held at Western Tidewater Regional Jail in Suffolk and is scheduled for a remote bond hearing on Friday in the U.S. District Court in Norfolk. Rukstales' exclusive interview with CBS 2's Charlie De Mar has been presented as evidence against the defendant. Rukstales also apologized to his family, colleagues and fellow countrymen for his actions. In 2020, Rukstales donated around $27,000 to several Republican candidates, including $2,600 to Donald Trump 's campaign. Lehr also said the 53-year-old tossed a chair toward U.S. Capitol Police officers before being dragged away from the scene by police and arrested. Today, it all becomes worth it. Four people died, one of thema woman from San Diegowho was shot and killed inside the Capitol. Charging documents say he "picked up one of the chairs at the bottom of the stairwell, and threw it in the direction of where the officers had retreated down the corridor.". WASHINGTON A former suburban tech CEO was sentenced to 30 days in jail Friday for his role in storming the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6. Get the Android Weather app from Google Play, Driver crashes into building after shooting, Man hospitalized with serious injuries after fire, Aurora, Chicago among the happiest cities in the. Officers then took Leffingwell into custody, it said. The records show Fitzgerald pleaded not guilty Thursday and was ordered to stay out of Washington until his next court date, set for June. Fired tech CEO from Inverness pleads guilty in US Capitol siege on Jan. 6 Bradley Rukstales, who lost his job after being charged in the siege of the U.S. Capitol, is the first Illinoisan to be. Sentencing held on 11/12/2021, he was sentenced to 30 days of incarceration. As a successful suburban Chicago businessman with a masters degree who has lived a life free of apparent economic hardship or family strife, Rukstales knew better than to join a mob in breaching the Capitol, hurl a chair in the CVC, and further beleaguer outnumbered and endangered police officers, prosecutors said. Rukstales, in a letter to the judge before his sentencing, claimed that he went into the U.S. Capitol thinking that there may be someplace for us to protest inside but was obviously mistaken. He wrote that he let his emotions to get the better of me but believed in civic engagement, while writing that he didnt want to get into the details of his political beliefs and ideology. The first known federal charges stemming from the riot were unsealed Thursday afternoon in a court in Washington, laying out an official account of the chaos that interrupted the Electoral College vote count. She told the publication she "never saw anything destructive taking place, but that the group she was in sang the national anthem and Twisted SistersWere Not Gonna Take It.". Meanwhile, a Chicago real estate agent who describes herself as a big Trump supporter lost her job for a social media post she made after going to the Capitol. She said she traveled to Washington in response to Trumps call for support Big protest in D.C. on January 6th. A third Illinois man, 23-year-old Siham Raju, was arrested. A spokeswoman for. Libby Andrews, 56, told the newspaper she did not enter the Capitol, but was photographed close to the door while wearing a Trump knit hat, according to the report. Others were photographed ransacking the building. Washington, D.C. U.S.. Keep poking us.. Without qualification and as a peaceful and law-abiding citizen, I condemn the violence and destruction that took place in Washington., Offering sincere apologies for what he called his indiscretion, Rukstales added: I deeply regret that my actions have brought embarrassment to my family, colleagues, friends and fellow countrymen., It was the single worst decision of my life, he wrote. Rukstales said he was. Officers said he also carried a gas mask and his backpack contained a pocket knife, a military meal ready to eat or MRE, and a first-aid kit. Bradley Rukstales, of Inverness, was charged Thursday with "knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority; or knowingly, with intent to impede government business or official functions, engaging in disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds; and violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds.". Caldwell, of Clarke County, must remain in jail until his trial because he represents not just a danger to the community but to the fabric of democracy, a federal judge ruled Feb. 12. Rukstales was one of two suburban men arrested and charged during the riot aimed at thwarting a peaceful transfer of power Wednesday, authorities said. By entering your email and clicking Sign Up, you're agreeing to let us send you customized marketing messages about us and our advertising partners. Newsfeed Now: President Trump campaigns in NC; Presidential, Newsfeed Now: Trump campaigns in PA; Changes to Thursdays, Alabama man meets long-lost brother through DNA test, Friends call 911, save life of 69-year-old California, Trick-or-treating banned: Los Angeles announces strict, State police returning to Portland following deadly, U.S. Coast Guard honors 9-year-old for saving fathers, Nev Schulman of MTVs Catfish leaves generous,, I hope one of yall pick me, 9-year-old boy desperately, Which face masks are most, least effective at stopping, Man who shot Denver officer and escaped prison in, WATCH: Celebration of life for Rep. John Lewis continues, Oklahoma woman shot multiple times after being dared, Lawmakers face pressure to change Mississippi state, Experts hail swift moves in wake of Atlanta police, Id fight tooth and nail for him: Florida man fights, Video shows Chicago police lounging in congressmans, TV helicopter crew spots, rescues missing swimmer, Arkansas man delivers donuts to officers during protests, COVID-19 has potential to spread during protests,, WATCH: Agitator apprehended by protesters, handed, Walgreens decision on abortion pills riles many, Tom Sizemore, Saving Private Ryan actor, dies at, Man wanted for death of Hanover Park woman dies, 6 hurt, 2 critical in multivehicle crash on Near, Why the $2B jackpot winner got less than half. BLM had a free pass all summer. On January 8, the company's board of directors fired him as president and CEO of Cogensia marketing firm. '", Andrews told Crain's Chicago Business that she was not part of the violence and was with a different crowd on another side of the Capitol building. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. A federal judge sentenced a former Schaumburg CEO to 30 days in jail Friday for his role in the Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol breach. Court documents show numerous Facebook posts, selfies, and videos connecting to Hiles to events at and inside the Capitol, according to court documents. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. Lehr noted that Rukstales traveled from Illinois to attend former President Donald Trumps rally, which devolved into a riot. He is the host of Law&Crime podcast "Objections: with Adam Klasfeld.". Joel Schiltz, senior vice president and Chief Operating Officer of Cogensia, has been named Acting CEO. He has also lived in other parts of the U.S. including California, Indiana, Michigan and Ohio. And thats all Im comfortable saying.. WATCH LIVE: Ex-boyfriend on trial for allegedly killing womans new beau, WATCH LIVE: Psychic on Trial in Spousal Swindling Case, WATCH LIVE: XXXTentacion murder trial 3 men charged in 2018 shooting death of rapper, Law&Crime Looks Ahead to 10 Remarkable Criminal Trials Scheduled for the First Half of 2023, 9 Shocking Times Defendants Testified at Trial, Family calls on U.S. to intervene to help solve death of social media influencer seen being brutally beaten in video in Mexico, Man arrested more than 3 decades after Atlanta woman found raped and strangled in woods, Two far-right Trump supporters who sought war over 2020 election sentenced for conspiring to blow up Democratic Headquarters, Alex Murdaugh juror: We prayed before returning to courtroom with guilty verdict for murders, Judge throws the book at boyfriend for killing and dismembering girlfriend, whose remains were scattered outside their home, Two far-right Trump supporters who sought 'war' over 2020 election sentenced for conspiring to blow up Democratic Headquarters, Alex Murdaugh juror: 'We prayed' before returning to courtroom with guilty verdict for murders, 'Coward rapper': Florida gang member shoots rival in the back, then raps about it on social media: Sheriff, Jan. 6th rioter who stole Officer Michael Fanones badge following Capitol assault pleads guilty, Justice Department rejects Trumps claims of absolute immunity from Jan. 6 lawsuits, saying shield has outer perimeter, Sedition Panda allegedly hopped over barricades to breach Capitol on Jan. 6, now faces felony charges, Ohio man seen hanging from tunnel during violent Capitol clash on Jan. 6 sentenced for felony convictions, NASA intern who posted racist screed on Telegram poised to plead guilty in Jan. 6 Capitol attack, Arkansas man who joined mob beating of cop on Jan. 6 pleads guilty. Hemenway told federal investigators that he entered the U.S. Capitol out of curiosity and stupidity., He [Hemenway] also knew that Vice President Pence was going to announce the Electoral College vote, court documents signed by an FBI special agent said. I think its horrible that somebody broke their way in, she said. It took at least three officers to get Rukstales under arrest after he refused to comply with orders to leave the building, prosecutors said. Eric Gavalek . / CBS Chicago. It was like a party. I've enjoyed being a business leader, where I parlayed my marketing statistics and business consultant career into building a powerhouse marketing services provider, with a team of brilliant and dedicated individuals, midwestern values, and a commitment to excellence, ethics, and community. My decision to enter the Capitol was wrong, and I am deeply regretful to have done so, Rukstales said. My office, along with our law enforcement partners at all levels, have been expeditiously working and leveraging every resource to identify, arrest, and begin prosecuting these individuals who took part in the brazen criminal acts at the U.S. Capitol. HEMENWAY said that he knows being inside the U.S. Capitol under those circumstances was wrong.. The complaint against Alberts alleges he was identified using a Maryland drivers license. There were signs of a violent riot everywhere, and he willingly joined it, federal prosecutors wrote. "Tom is a wonderful man. Former Inverness tech CEO Bradley Rukstales has been sentenced to 30 days in jail for his role in the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6. '", Andrews told Crain's Chicago Business that she was not part of the violence and was with a different crowd on another side of the Capitol building. 2023 BuzzFeed, Inc. All rights reserved. Please enter valid email address to continue. As police yelled for people to leave, one of the officers brushed up against Rukstales from behind his arm stretched out toward officers. [emailprotected], Law&Crime's managing editor Adam Klasfeld has spent more than a decade on the legal beat. Not all of his family agreed with his behavior or his politics, however. Under the terms of his plea agreement, law enforcement can review any of Rukstaless social media accounts. He was among 13 charged Thursday with various federal offenses, many for unlawful entry, according to the Department of Justice. Three other people died after suffering medical emergencies related to the breach, said Robert Contee, chief of the citys Metropolitan Police Department. I mean, it was great to see a whole bunch of people together in the morning, and hear the speeches, but, uh, yeah, it turned into chaos, he recalled late Thursday. Former Inverness tech CEO Bradley Rukstales has been sentenced to 30 days in jail for his role in the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6. Dave LaRock, a Republican member of the Virginia House of Delegates who represents western Loudoun County as well as Clarke and Frederick Counties. NBC Chicago could not independently reach Rukstales to verify the remarks. Prosecutors are accusing Caldwell, 66, of planning anti-government activities with members of the extremist militant group, dating back to the aftermath of the November election. Brad was acting as an individual, not as CEO of Cogensia when he was arrested, the spokeswoman told WBEZ. . The complaint says Alberts had a handgun with one round in the chamber and a full, 12-round capacity magazine, along with a second spare magazine. Visible in the photographs and videos collected by the FBI is a bearded man identified as Hiles wearing a dark in color sweatshirt bearing the words F*** ANTIFA, a tan in color neck gaiter, baseball cap, and tan in color goggles, according to an FBI affidavit. When I learned about the rally on January 6, it seemed to me that momentum was growing, and that the event would be an important constitutional moment in our republics history. He was just there to peacefully protest and support President Trump. Rukstales pleaded guilty in August to a misdemeanor offense of parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a Capitol building as part of a plea agreement. Douglas Sweet, Terry Brown, Bradley . HuffPost's top politics stories, straight to your inbox. Cogensia terminated Bradley Rukstales from his position as CEO of the business located in suburban Chicago. The FBI was informed of a screenshot on Twitter showing Sidorski inside the Capitol building wearing a black sweatshirt with American Supremacist on the front. Hemenway pleaded not guilty to the charges against him on Friday, Feb. 12. Mr. Rukstales actions were his own; he was not acting on behalf of the company nor do his actions in any way reflect the policies or values of our firm. Have a tip we should know? Pro-Trump rioters who invaded the building also stole at least two laptops and one iPad from the offices of three Democratic lawmakers. Sherwin said prosecutors plan to file 15 federal cases for crimes including unauthorized access and theft of property, and investigators are combing through reams of evidence to bring additional charges. The GM and coach seem to be more cohesive than Ryan Pace was with Matt Nagy and John Fox. In a moment of extremely poor judgment following the Jan. 6 rally in Washington, I followed hundreds of others through an open set of doors in the Capitol building to see what was taking place inside, Rukstales claimed. Fitzgerald also was charged with a curfew violation. He entered his plea during a. First published on November 4, 2021 / 9:57 PM. Additionally, about 40 others have been arrested and charged with crimes including unlawful entry, curfew violations and firearms-related crimes. Court records indicate Fitzgerald pleaded not guilty and is due back before a judge in June. Sposato blames commie, lefty loons for accusing him of ethics violation over Facebook fire truck photo, Illinois Democrats join Biden in taking aim at specter of elusive ghost guns, Dear Abby: When my husbands brother marries, I should be in the wedding, Jose Abreu on life with the Astros and leaving the White Sox, who werent a family in 2022, Founding fathers didnt own AR-15s or large capacity magazines, Pritzker and Raoul argue in defense of ban, Dear Abby: With boyfriends fussy father living here, I feel trapped, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and wife to invest $250 million in new Chicago research lab, Man dies at Cook County Jail less than a day after being booked, 2 men stabbed during fight in River North, Matt Eberflus influence essential as Bears GM Ryan Poles begins roster construction, Man found fatally shot inside Rogers Park home. When they stopped him, he allegedly punched a Capitol Police officer repeatedly with a closed fist. The officer was allegedly struck on a helmet and in the chest. The CEO of a data analytics firm who was arrested during the U.S. Capitol riot has been terminated from his role, the company announced Friday. I have come to realize the weight of my actions, and immensely regret following others into the Capitol. That is why I came to Washington, D.C. on that day, and brought my family.. He called it "the single worst decision of my life" and said he regrets taking part. Andrews was fired by @properties after posting on social media about "storming the Capitol," though she said she never entered the building and was unaware anything illegal was happening. A Washington, D.C., federal judge sentenced a former Chicago-area CEO to 30 days in prison on Friday in connection to the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol, NBC News reported.Bradley Rukstales o Following their arrests for their alleged part in the insurrection, Robertson and Fracker were both fired by the police department. The lawless destruction of the U.S. Capitol building was an attack against one of our Nations greatest institutions, Acting U.S. Attorney Michael Sherwin said in a statement. On Jan. 8, law enforcement received a tip online that Steele-Smith, of Gloucester, posted photos from inside the Capitol on her personal Facebook page. In a video David Fitzgerald posted to his Facebook page, members of the media and Trump supporters were wandering among police officers, asking how they could leave an area enclosed by fences. A state budget with firm fiscal foundation that shows tremendous progress? Or a cynical election-year ploy to buy votes? Rukstales, CEO of Schaumburg-based tech company Cogensia, was one of the people arrested by police after a group of domestic terrorists stormed the U.S. Capitol in an attack. SCHAUMBURG, Ill. - A man whose role in the U.S. Capitol riot caused his firing at an Illinois tech company pleaded guilty Tuesday to a misdemeanor. He pleaded not guilty to all counts on 3/30/21. Foul play was not suspected. (Libby Andrews). "Tom has served our country in a long and distinguished career in the U.S. military. I greatly appreciate the support of my family, friends, colleagues, and community. He did not return messages but his wife said he had spent the night in jail in Washington. In a phone conversation we had the other day, he told me that he believes he got too involved and he has learned how dangerous it is to get too deeply involved in a political movement instead of focusing on the love and service that Christ calls of us.. Fitzgerald was not among the 13 charged in federal court Thursday. I think its horrible that happened. Additional photos and posts to STEELE-SMITHs Facebook account include a post stating, Weve stormed the castle., On her Facebook page, the FBI found a conversation in which Steele-Smith stated: "I was there. According to court documents, Packer was arrested by FBI on Jan. 13 in Norfolk on a warrant out of the District of Columbia. Rukstales eldest daughter, a teacher in her mid-20s, wrote in a letter to the judge that they disagree politically but that he shouldnt be defined by his actions on Jan. 6. Bradley Rukstales. Brad Rukstales is an Illinois businessman who served as the CEO of data analytics company Cogensia and was among those arrested in Washington, D.C., for his role in storming the U.S. Capitol on. Trump Crazed Insurrectionist Pleads Guilty After Throwing Chair Toward Officers By Caleb Newton - August 31, 2021 53-year-old Bradley Rukstales has now become one of the latest Trump insurrectionists to plead guilty after participating in the Capitol riot. Both law enforcement and Trump supporters deployed chemical irritants during the hourslong occupation of the complex before it was cleared Wednesday evening. Additionally, about 40 others have been arrested and charged with crimes including unlawful entry, curfew violations and firearms-related crimes. Bradley Rukstales, 53, of Inverness, Illinois, and the former CEO of data analytics firm Cogensia, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols. Bradley Rukstales, a Capitol rioter who pleaded guilty on Tuesday, said he was "careful" when he threw a chair during a riot. The head of a marketing firm outside Chicago who was arrested during the Capitol siege says storming the building was the single worst decision of his life. He later pleaded guilty to count 4. We interviewed our tech expert, Jaime Vazquez, to learn more about accessible smart home devices. However, his actions on that day should not taint his character, his daughter wrote. His wife, Jeanette, said her husband, a disabled veteran, never went into the Capitol building itself. WASHINGTON A former suburban tech CEO was sentenced to 30 days in jail Friday for his role in storming the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6. Brad Rukstales, who gave $25,000 to Trump's campaign and GOP committees in 2020, said he allowed emotions to get the better of me.". Bradley Rukstales, CEO of marketing consultancy Cogensia, has reportedly acknowledged entering the Capitol during the riots. Eric Munchel. Fitzgerald posted a video that was taken near the Capitol on his Facebook page at about 7 p.m. Wednesday , a few hours after the violent insurrection. Individuals in the crowd forced entry into the U.S. Capitol, including by breaking windows.. i was in the wrong place at the wrong time, he insisted. All of those charges are on the table. Were taking it very seriously.. A person who claimed to have worked with Sidorski at ADESA Washington, D.C., a vehicle auction company in the Dulles area, from sometime in 2016 until April 2020 also informed the FBI they received the same video showing a man inside the Capitol with the American Supremacist sweatshirt. RUKSTALES, Bradley Case Number: 1:21-cr-41 Charge (s): Entering and Remaining in a Restricted Building; Disorderly and Disruptive Conduct in a Restricted Building; Violent Entry and Disorderly Conduct in a Capitol Building; Parading, Demonstrating, or Picketing in a Capitol Building Location of Arrest: DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, Washington Case Status: Earlier this month, U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper dubbed Ryan a cheerleader for the Jan. 6 attack and sentenced her to 60 days in federal prison, which shell begin serving in January. Wife of missing California DJ says he 'will not be coming back' 7 minutes ago . Heres how. We are all fools for believing the government and the news on either side.". His ex-wife told a local newspaper that he was a supporter of the president. When told that the officer who Leffingwell had struck was me, Leffingwell apologized to me for striking me, the complaining officer wrote. Andrews was fired by @properties after posting on social media about "storming the Capitol," though she said she never entered the building and was unaware anything illegal was happening.