Florida Man Sentenced for Assaulting Law Enforcement During Jan. 6 Capitol Breach

            WASHINGTON – A Central Florida man was sentenced in the District of Columbia today on five offenses, including assaulting law enforcement, related to his conduct during the Jan. 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol breach. His actions and the actions of others disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress convened to ascertain and count the electoral votes related to the presidential election.

            Michael Steven Perkins, 40, of Plant City, Florida, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Carl J. Nichols to 48 months in prison and 36 months of supervised release.

            Perkins was found guilty on March 15, 2023, of assaulting a federal officer with a deadly or dangerous weapon and civil disorder, both felony offenses. Perkins was also found guilty of offenses of entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds, and acts of physical violence while on the restricted Capitol grounds. 

            According to evidence and testimony presented at trial, Perkins traveled to Washington, D.C., to attend the “Stop the Steal” rally on Jan. 6, 2021. When the rally concluded, Perkins marched toward the Capitol with a group of co-defendants, trespassing over the restricted perimeter that had been established, and made their way to the West Plaza of the Capitol building.

            Shortly after 2:00 p.m., Perkins helped a co-defendant in an attempt to charge and break through a police line by pushing him from behind into the line. 

            As police descended into the crowd to assist another officer, Perkins picked up a flagpole and thrust it into the chest of an approaching officer. Perkins then raised the flagpole over his head and swung it down, striking two officers in the back of their heads.

            After the police line broke, Perkins moved closer to the Capitol building and climbed up the inaugural stage, then ascended to the building’s Upper West Terrace. All told, Perkins spent at least three hours in the restricted Capitol grounds on January 6, 2021.

            On June 30, 2021, FBI agents arrested Perkins in Plant City.

            The 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, with valuable assistance provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida.

            The case was investigated by the FBI’s Tampa Field Office and Washington Field Office, with valuable assistance provided by the Metropolitan Police Department and U.S. Capitol Police.

            In the 31 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,106 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.

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