Florida Man Arrested on Felony and Misdemeanor Charges for Actions During Jan. 6 Capitol Breach

            WASHINGTON - A Florida man has been arrested on felony and misdemeanor charges for his actions during the breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. He and others helped to disrupt a joint session of the U.S. Congress convened to count the electoral votes of the 2020 presidential election.

            Ryan K. Yates, 37, of Holiday, Florida, is charged in a criminal complaint filed in the District of Columbia with the felony offense of civil disorder. In addition to the felony, Yates is charged with several misdemeanors, including entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds, disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly conduct in a Capitol building, and parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a Capitol building.

            Yates was arrested yesterday in Holiday and made his initial appearance today in the Middle District of Florida.

            According to court documents, law enforcement authorities determined that Yates had illegally entered the U.S. Capitol building on Jan. 6, 2021, and was among the crowd of rioters that day. Yates was determined to have been at the National Mall on January 6^th, wearing a blue and burgundy hoodie and a camouflage baseball cap with orange lettering saying, “Make America Great Again.”

            Yates entered the Capitol at about 2:17 p.m. via the Senate Wing Door. Once inside, Yates traveled down the Statuary Hall Connector and to the House side of the building, where he stood near a group of protesters, apparently typing on his phone, as they tried to break into the House floor. Yates further traveled to the Capitol Rotunda and Crypt.

            At approximately 3:20 p.m., Yates went to the interior Rotunda door, which connects the Rotunda to the east entrance of the Capitol. As rioters rushed from the outside to get into the Rotunda, Yates joined in the effort and made his way to the front of the rioters. Yates and the others then pushed against a police line to get inside the Rotunda before officers were able to close the doors, prohibiting a further advance. Surrounded by police inside the Rotunda, Yates was escorted out of the Capitol.

            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.

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

            In the 32 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,100 individuals have been charged in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including more than 396 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement, a felony. The investigations are ongoing.

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

A complaint is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.