Defendant Joined Crowd Pushing Against Officers in Rotunda Area
WASHINGTON — A Pennsylvania man was sentenced, yesterday, to two months incarceration and 24 months of supervised release for a felony charge stemming from his actions during the breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. His actions and the actions of others disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress that was in the process of ascertaining and counting the electoral votes related to the presidential election.
Kenneth Grayson, 53, of Bridgeville, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty on September 20, 2022, in the District of Columbia, to interfering with a law enforcement officer during a civil disorder.
According to court documents, Grayson attended a rally at the Ellipse on Jan. 6, 2021, and then walked towards the Capitol, where he illegally entered the grounds. He then approached the Capitol Building. Law enforcement officers were attempting to prevent people from entering. Grayson entered the Capitol through the Senate Wing doors at approximately 2:20 p.m. and proceeded to the Crypt. He also entered the Rotunda area, where a mob of rioters began standing in front of a row of law enforcement officers. The mob began pushing against officers to gain access to the adjoining hall. Grayson joined the rear of this group that began pushing into the officers.
While he was inside the Capitol, Grayson live-streamed video on his Facebook account. He exited the Capitol at approximately 3:07 p.m.
Grayson was arrested on Jan. 26, 2021, in Bridgeville, Pennsylvania. In addition to the custodial sentence, he was ordered to pay $2,000 in restitution and a $100 special assessment.
This case was 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 Pennsylvania.
The case was investigated by the FBI’s Pittsburgh Field Office. Valuable assistance was provided by the FBI’s Washington Field Office, the Metropolitan Police Department, and the U.S. Capitol Police.
In the 23 months since Jan. 6, 2021, close to 900 individuals have been arrested in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including over 265 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.