Maryland Man Indicted for Assaulting Law Enforcement and Other Charges During Jan. 6 Capitol Breach

            WASHINGTON – A Maryland man has been indicted on felony and misdemeanor charges, including assaulting law enforcement, for 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 convened to ascertain and count the electoral votes related to the 2020 presidential election.

            Justin Lee, 25, of Rockville, Maryland, an officer with the Montgomery County Police Department, is charged in a seven-count indictment unsealed today in the District of Columbia with felony offenses of civil disorder and assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers.

            In addition to the felonies, Lee is charged with several misdemeanor offenses, including entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds, engaging in physical violence in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly conduct in a Capitol building, and act of physical violence in the capitol grounds or buildings.

            According to the indictment, on Jan. 6, 2021, Lee forcibly assaulted a law enforcement officer and obstructed, impeded, or interfered with a law enforcement officer during a civil disorder. Lee is also accused of entering and remaining in the U.S. Capitol grounds while the Vice President was and would be temporarily visiting without lawful authority to do so and engaging in disruptive conduct, physical violence, and disorderly conduct while on restricted grounds of the Capitol.

            Lee was arrested today in Washington, D.C., and will make his initial appearance in the District of Columbia.

            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 District of Maryland. 

            This case is being investigated by the FBI’s Baltimore and Washington Field Offices, which identified Lee as BOLO AFO (Be on the Lookout Assault on Federal Officer) #533 on its seeking information photos. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department.

            In the 33 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 400 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement, a felony. The investigation remains ongoing.

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

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