Evergreen Reporter

A Florida man has been found guilty of felony destruction of government property and other charges for his actions during the January 6, 2021 breach of the U.S. Capitol. The incident disrupted a joint session of Congress that was convened to count electoral votes from the 2020 presidential election.

Marcus Smith, 47, from Fleming Island, Florida, was convicted by a federal jury in the District of Columbia. He was found guilty of destroying government property and six misdemeanor offenses: 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, committing an act of physical violence on Capitol grounds or buildings, and parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a Capitol building.

U.S. District Judge Dabney L. Friedrich will sentence Smith on January 10, 2025.

Evidence presented at the trial showed that Smith traveled from Jacksonville to Washington D.C. on January 5th with three others to "Have [his] voice[] heard." On January 6th, he approached the Capitol among a large crowd of rioters and noticed that barricades had been knocked over.

At approximately 2:44 p.m., Smith entered the Capitol through the Parliamentarian Door after watching rioters break it down two minutes earlier. He attempted to move further into the Brumidi Corridor but was blocked by police officers. Observing others trying to break down a door leading to Room S-131 by throwing themselves against it, Smith joined them. After several strikes with his shoulder along with others', they broke open the door causing damage estimated at $21,000 according to the Architect of the Capitol.

Smith then spent several minutes inside Room S-131 before exiting and attempting again to move further into the Capitol but turned back upon encountering another line of police officers. He exited through the Parliamentarian Door around 2:50 p.m., leaving police officers needing additional time to clear rioters from Room S-131.

Smith was arrested by FBI agents on January 26, 2024 in Fleming Island.

The case is being prosecuted by both the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section with assistance from various law enforcement agencies including FBI’s Jacksonville and Washington Field Offices as well as local police departments.

Since January 6th more than 1,504 individuals have been charged across nearly all states for crimes related to breaching the U.S. Capitol; over 560 have been charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement officers—a felony offense—and investigations are ongoing.

Anyone with information can contact authorities at 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or visit tips.fbi.gov.