Toms River, NJ – A 27-year-old man, Robert Coppotelli, has been charged with felony offenses related to his participation in the January 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, authorities revealed. Coppotelli, identifiable in video footage due to a jacket bearing his last name, phone number, and company logo, “Coppotelli Heavy Equipment Sales & Services, Inc.,” was arrested following an investigation that led through clues tied directly to his apparel.
Coppotelli, a resident of Toms River, New Jersey, allegedly took part in the violent event as a supporter of former President Donald Trump, protesting the certification of Joe Biden’s electoral victory. He is accused of trespassing and disorderly conduct, with potential sentences totaling up to three years in prison.
The identification of Coppotelli was aided by an anonymous tip and a witness familiar with him, enhancing the FBI’s ability to track his movements within the Capitol. Notably, he entered the Capitol through the Senate Wing Door, traversed the Capitol Crypt, and exited by crawling through a broken window, all within a span of approximately 12 minutes.