Merrick B. Garland, Attorney General | https://www.justice.gov/
Merrick B. Garland, Attorney General | https://www.justice.gov/
A Minnesota resident, Paul Orta Jr., has been sentenced to six months in prison for his involvement in the January 6, 2021, breach of the U.S. Capitol. Orta, aged 34 and from Blue Earth, Minnesota, had previously pleaded guilty to a felony charge of obstructing law enforcement during a civil disorder. The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Judge Dabney L. Friedrich and includes 12 months of supervised release along with $2,000 in restitution and fines.
Court documents reveal that Orta traveled from Minnesota to Washington, D.C., to participate in the "Stop the Steal" rally on January 6. At approximately 12:53 p.m., he was positioned on the west side of the Capitol along First Street when he joined other rioters who began overpowering officers at the Peace Memorial entrance.
As United States Capitol Police officers retreated and attempted to establish a new line of defense, Orta moved forward with the crowd and shouted, “We’re taking that s— today!” He then proceeded to forcibly move temporary bike racks used by law enforcement to control the crowd and threw them over a concrete wall.
Orta continued advancing with the crowd into the West Plaza area. By around 1:22 p.m., as law enforcement pushed back against the crowd, Orta allegedly threw an object towards officers. Later attempts by police to form barricades were met with resistance from Orta, who reportedly pushed against bike rack barricades and made physical contact with officers.
The FBI arrested Orta on November 14, 2023, in Minnesota after identifying him as BOLO (Be on the Lookout) #148 through their seeking information photos.
The case was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia alongside the Department of Justice National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section. The investigation received assistance from various agencies including FBI’s Minneapolis and Washington Field Offices as well as local police departments.
Since January 6, more than 1,532 individuals have been charged across nearly all states for crimes related to the Capitol breach. This includes over 571 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement officers.
Tips related to this ongoing investigation can be reported via phone at 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or online at tips.fbi.gov.
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