Fitzgerald is a self-employed tattoo artist, according to his social-media accounts and company filings with state officials. Next time (and there WILL be a next time) we will have learned and we will be stronger, Caldwell said in a message to others after the meeting, according to court documents. 2023 BuzzFeed, Inc. All rights reserved. Rukstales was one of two suburban men arrested and charged during the riot aimed at thwarting a peaceful transfer of power Wednesday, authorities said. His admission to parading, demonstrating or picketing inside a Capitol building could carry a maximum six-month sentence. Fitzgerald also was charged with a curfew violation. The complaint against Alberts alleges he was identified using a Maryland drivers license. Rukstales was fired by Cogenias board after his arrest. My office, along with our law enforcement partners at all levels, have been expeditiously working and leveraging every resource to identify, arrest, and begin prosecuting these individuals who took part in the brazen criminal acts at the U.S. Capitol. Wife of missing California DJ says he 'will not be coming back' 7 minutes ago . Rukstales told the judge that he was "careful . Joel Schiltz, senior vice president and Chief Operating Officer of Cogensia, has been named Acting CEO. 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David Fitzgerald, of Roselle, also faces charges of unlawful entry and a curfew violation, according to Metropolitan police. Caldwell, a Navy veteran who worked for the FBI from 2009 to 2010, has been held at the Central Virginia Regional Correctional Facility in Orange since he was arrested at his home on Jan. 19. Eric Gavalek . I think very highly of Tom and Sharon.". My decision to enter the Capitol was wrong, and I am deeply regretful to have done so, Rukstales said in a statement. I had nothing to do with charging anybody or anything or any of that I was in the wrong place at the wrong time and I regret my part in that. Rukstales also apologized to his family, colleagues and fellow countrymen for his actions. I was arrested for the first time in my life and charged with unlawful entry.. He gave $5,000 to Trumps campaign in October and is a regular contributor to Republican candidates and committees, according to the Federal Election Commission. Sidorski was charged with four counts related to violent entry into the restricted grounds of the Capitol, CNN reported. Andrews was fired by @properties after posting on social media about "storming the Capitol," though she said she never entered the building and was unaware anything illegal was happening. My husband is a disabled (Army) veteran. Camila Alves McConaughey Describes 'Chaos' Of Lufthansa Flight, Barn Floors + Home Theaters + 100-Year-Old Houses: VA Dream Homes, Ashburn Estate Is Loaded With Upgrades Like A Theater And A Wet Bar, Master Singers of VA Presents Sing Her Song, Taxes in Retirement Seminar on March 7th and 8th at Claude Moore Recreation Center, Active Bystander: Tactical Emergency Casualty Care Training, Foley Academy Irish Dance Spring Session Enrollment Open, Barrier-Breaking Black Army Officer Finally Awarded Medal Of Honor, Amazon HQ2 Pause, Peak Bloom, NAACP On Police Killing: Top VA News, Ashburn Area Pets Up For Adoption: Bode, Latte & More. U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols also ordered Bradley Rukstales, of Inverness, Illinois, to pay $500 in restitution, court records show. A state budget with firm fiscal foundation that shows tremendous progress? Or a cynical election-year ploy to buy votes? Rukstales is the CEO of Cogensia, according to the firm's website. As described by Assistant U.S. Attorney Susan Lehr during a plea agreement hearing on Tuesday morning, Rukstaless participation was less passive. When I learned about the rally on January 6, it seemed to me that momentum was growing, and that the event would be an important constitutional moment in our republics history. Jan. 9 (UPI) --The man seen in a viral photo carrying House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's lectern during Wednesday's riot in the U.S. Capitol has been arrested.Local residents identified the man as Adam . Defendants like Jenna Ryan made post-arrest public statements reflecting a belief that she was immune from punishment because of her social status and a personal message that she would get off Scott free, Rukstales lawyer wrote. He added: "I had nothing to do with charging anybody or anything or any of that. Fitzgerald's wife told the Chicago Tribune that he was still in custody as of Thursday afternoon, when he was scheduled to be arraigned. He has been placed on leave of absence while we assess the situation.. Chicago U.S. Attorney John Lauschs spokesman, Joseph Fitzpatrick, said, Should we determine there is a legal nexus between the crimes committed at the Capitol and our jurisdiction here in Illinois, we will not hesitate to investigate and prosecute the individuals responsible.. We will bring the most maximum charges we can, he said. The Chicago-based firm @properties said on Twitter it fired Libby Andrews after she posted on social media about storming the Capitol, saying the company does not condone violence, destruction or illegal activities., Chicago real estate agent Libby Andrews, foreground, poses at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. First published on November 4, 2021 / 9:57 PM. He called it "the single worst decision of my life" and said he regrets taking part. He was among 13 charged Thursday with various federal offenses, many for unlawful entry, according to the Department of Justice. In Virginia, at least 11 people have been arrested so far in connection with the riots, a database from the Program on Extremism at George Washington University shows. A Chicago-area tech CEO was arrested and charged with unlawful entry for entering the US Capitol building in the riots on Wednesday, the US Capitol Police said on Thursday. Rukstales' exclusive interview with CBS 2's Charlie De Mar has been presented as evidence against the defendant. Officers then took Leffingwell into custody, it said. . Dan Mihalopoulos is an investigative reporter on WBEZs Government & Politics Team. Fitzgerald's wife told NBC 5 her husband was there "to support [President Donald Trump" and was "just trying to leave" when he was arrested. Bradley Rukstales of Inverness,. Hemenway told federal investigators that he entered the U.S. Capitol out of curiosity and stupidity., He [Hemenway] also knew that Vice President Pence was going to announce the Electoral College vote, court documents signed by an FBI special agent said. Indian Trail, High Street intersection work approved in Aurora, Suspect in high-speed chase crashes into, kills veteran Indiana State Trooper trying to stop him: officials, Educators get peek at Paramount play about artificial intelligence which is set to tour schools, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. The records show Fitzgerald pleaded not guilty Thursday and was ordered to stay out of Washington until his next court date, set for June. Among the most notable Virginia residents charged in the insurrection are two police officers and a Navy veteran with alleged ties to the Oath Keepers, a far-right anti-government militia organization. Robertson also stated that he was proud of the photo in an Instagram Post that was shared to Facebook, because he was willing to put skin in the game, according to the FBI documents. I have no idea why he went there, she said of the Trump rally. Have a tip or story idea? The FBI was informed of a screenshot on Twitter showing Sidorski inside the Capitol building wearing a black sweatshirt with American Supremacist on the front. Nearly eight months after issuing a statement that his participation in the siege of the U.S. Capitol was the single worst decision of his life, the former CEO of an analytics company pleaded guilty on Tuesday. A U.S. Capitol Police officer died from injuries Friday. Bradley Rukstales was president and CEO of Cogensia, a tech company in Schaumburg, Ill., when he entered the Capitol with hundreds of radical supporters of former President Donald Trump. Lehr noted that Rukstales traveled from Illinois to attend former President Donald Trumps rally, which devolved into a riot. 2021 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Bradley Rukstales, CEO of marketing consultancy Cogensia, has reportedly acknowledged entering the Capitol during the riots. David Fitzgerald, of Roselle, also faces charges of unlawful entry and a curfew violation, according to Metropolitan police. I'm sorry for my part in it," Rukstales told De Mar on Jan. 7. November 4, 2021 / 9:57 PM All rights reserved, Man Dies at Cook County Jail Less Than a Day After Being Booked, These Starved Rock Tiny Cabins Are Perfect For a Weekend Getaway, New Ranking Names Most Expensive Cities In Illinois and These Chicago Suburbs Top the List, Body of Missing Genoa Man Recovered From River: Authorities. Theres a curfew, another officer said. '", Andrews told Crain's Chicago Business that she was not part of the violence and was with a different crowd on another side of the Capitol building. Clouds increase with chance of evening showers, Chicago area escapes brunt of latest storm, but cold, Skilling: Storm out, mild temps in for the weekend, Prep underway for winter storm southwest of Chicago, Chicagos new pro rugby team builds quickly in 2023, Michael Jordan holy grail shoe collection for sale, Photos: Patrick Kane plays his 1st game with Rangers, Blackhawks make three more trades ahead of deadline, Ex-Blackhawk Patrick Kanes Rangers debut spoiled, Last Comiskey: Sox fans film a trip back to 1990s, Want a WGN News Super Fan Friday Flyover? Authorities identified Steele-Smith by reviewing surveillance footage and comparing her Facebook photos to her drivers license. The 52-year-old was the CEO of Schaumburg-based Cogensia, which acknowledged his arrest in a statement on social media and announced later Friday that he was fired. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. In a statement after his arrest, Rukstales described himself as a peaceful and law-abiding citizen who condemned the violence and destruction that took place in Washington. But federal prosecutors pointed to surveillance footage that showed Rukstales, less than 30 seconds after rioters tossed chairs at officers down a staircase, tossing a chair in the direction of a line of officers. Bradley Rukstales, an Illinois man arrested in Wednesday's Capitol riots, told local reporters that joining the protesters was the "single worst personal decision" of his life. Rukstales had previously donated more than $28,000 to Republicans, including $12,000 to Trump via various committees, according to campaign contributions obtained by the station. Funny. MELLIS appears to be making at contact or attempting to strike the officers necks between their helmets and body-armor where they are not protected, according to an FBI affidavit. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated. Rukstales pleaded guilty in August to a misdemeanor offense of parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a Capitol building as part of a plea agreement. Only a day after 53-year-old Bradley Rukstales entered the Capitol building, the now-former Cogensia CEO posted a lengthy statement on his Twitter account. He had been the CEO of Cogensia for 19 years, according to his LinkedIn profile. Circled in yellow, Joseph Pavlik, 65, a retired Chicago Fire Department firefighter, was charged with storming the U.S. Capitol with a right-wing militia group on Jan. 6, 2021, while wearing gas masks and carrying chemical irritants. He did not return messages but his wife said he had spent the night in jail in Washington. Libby Andrews, 56, told the newspaper she did not enter the Capitol, but was photographed close to the door while wearing a Trump knit hat, according to the report. WASHINGTON A former suburban tech CEO was sentenced to 30 days in jail Friday for his role in storming the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6. Bradley F. Rukstales is a white man from Illinois, United States. My decision to enter the Capitol was wrong, and I am deeply regretful to have done so. Sean Carlo Cordon, the third rioter sentenced Friday, received just probation. Bradley F. Rukstales . Rukstales attorney argued that his client was different from Capitol riot defendants like Jenna Ryan, a Texas real estate agent who stormed the U.S. Capitol, sought a pardon from former President Trump and constantly downplayed her behavior on Jan. 6. He picked up one of the chairs and belligerently hurled it in the direction of where the officers had fallen back., Prosecutors noted that officers were dozens of feet away from Rukstales and not in danger of being hit. Rukstales lawyer wrote there was no evidence the chair was even damaged., Federal prosecutors said it took three officers to effectuate the arrest of Rukstales and that Rukstales directly contributed to law enforcement being overwhelmed because it took at least three officers to get him under control during a volatile point in the overall attack on the Capitol.. Rukstales said he was. The complaint also said Leffingwell spontaneously apologized for striking the officer.. As a successful suburban Chicago businessman with a masters degree who has lived a life free of apparent economic hardship or family strife, Rukstales knew better than to join a mob in breaching the Capitol, hurl a chair in the CVC, and further beleaguer outnumbered and endangered police officers, prosecutors said. He is the host of Law&Crime podcast "Objections: with Adam Klasfeld.". Rukstales'. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. Or to keep it anonymous, click here. His wife, Jeanette, said her husband, a disabled veteran, never went into the Capitol building itself. @properties said in a statement that agent Libby Andrews was in Washington, D.C., during the riots at the U.S. Capitol and has since been terminated "effective immediately. In 2020, Rukstales donated to several Republican candidates, including $2,600 to . The man, 28, was shot in the left shoulder about 12:45 p.m. Saturday while in the 1000 block of West 59th Street. NBC Chicago could not independently reach Rukstales to verify the remarks. The 34-year-old was seen on police body-worn camera footage among a crowd of rioters using sticks and other items as weapons to assault police officers protecting the building. "It turned into chaos," Rukstales said of the riot when he talked to De Mar on Jan. 7. He was taken into custody inside the Capitol complex after a group of rioters chased officers from the Capitol crypt (underneath the Capitol Rotunda) down into the Capitol Visitor Center. That's all I'm comfortable saying.". Then-Deputy Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen, who stepped into the top Justice Department job when Barr resigned last month, told prosecutors in a memo in September that they should consider the use of seditious conspiracy charges against violent demonstrators, saying it does not require proof of a plot to overthrow the U.S. government despite what the name might suggest.. Andrews was fired by @properties after posting on social media about "storming the Capitol," though she said she never entered the building and was unaware anything illegal was happening. The chief executive officer of a company in Schaumburg and a tattoo artist from Roselle were among supporters of President Donald Trump who got arrested after a violent mob stormed the Capitol in Washington, D.C.,this week. Two days ago, he wrote that the authorities were intending to deal more harshly with the pro-Trump activists than they had during last years civil-rights unrest: DC mayor calls up National Guard for our arrival tomorrow. Sherwin said prosecutors plan to file 15 federal cases for crimes including unauthorized access and theft of property, and investigators are combing through reams of evidence to bring additional charges. RUKSTALES, Bradley Case Number: 1:21-cr-41 Charge (s): Entering and Remaining in a Restricted Building; Disorderly and Disruptive Conduct in a Restricted Building; Violent Entry and Disorderly Conduct in a Capitol Building; Parading, Demonstrating, or Picketing in a Capitol Building Location of Arrest: DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, Washington Case Status: '", Andrews told Crain's Chicago Business that she was not part of the violence and was with a different crowd on another side of the Capitol building. Rukstales agreed to speak to CBS affiliate WBBM in Chicago, which taped him describing how the rally descended into chaos. The station captured his quiet suburban life in Inverness, an upscale village in Cook County, Illinois. Rukstales employer, meanwhile, announced on Twitter late Thursday that he had been placed on leave as it assesses the incident, saying he was acting on his own behalf while participating in the riots. HEMENWAY said that he knows being inside the U.S. Capitol under those circumstances was wrong.. . Nazis killed more than 1 million people at Auschwitz, a concentration camp in Germany, in a five-year span during World War II. Bradley Rukstales, 53, of Inverness was sentenced to 30 days in prison and ordered to pay $500 in restitution. A Chicago real estate agent and admitted big Trump supporter also lost her job for posting on social media about storming the Capitol, the Chicago Tribune reported. Additionally, about 40 others have been arrested and charged with crimes including unlawful entry, curfew violations and firearms-related crimes. Meanwhile, a Chicago real estate agent who describes herself as a big Trump supporter lost her job for a social media post she made after going to the Capitol. The lawless destruction of the U.S. Capitol building was an attack against one of our Nations greatest institutions, Acting U.S. Attorney Michael Sherwin said in a statement. Mr. Rukstales actions were his own; he was not acting on behalf of the company nor do his actions in any way reflect the policies or values of our firm. "Everything that happened yesterday, I think, was terrible. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. I think there will be real violence for all of us next time. The video showed Trump supporters yelling at police in body armor and an officer telling them, Theres a curfew, youre under arrest., Someone protested that the Trump backers were trying to leave. An officer replied, Its too late., In a series of comments under the video, Fitzgerald wrote, Im under arrest, Surrounded, and Tell my wife., Six hours earlier, he had written, Unbelievable. A Chicago real estate agent, who was at the scene that day, was also fired from @properties after posting on social media about her attendance. There were signs of a violent riot everywhere, and he willingly joined it, federal prosecutors wrote. Youre under arrest.. Fitzgerald's wife told NBC 5 her husband was there "to . CHICAGO (CBS) -- Federal prosecutors have asked for a 45-day sentence for Bradley Rukstales a former tech CEO who pleaded guilty to charges in the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection. In a phone conversation we had the other day, he told me that he believes he got too involved and he has learned how dangerous it is to get too deeply involved in a political movement instead of focusing on the love and service that Christ calls of us.. The documents said that at about 2 p.m. certain individuals in the crowd forced their way through, up, and over the barricades and officers of the U.S. Capitol Police, and the crowd advanced to the exterior facade of the building. ", Rukstales appeared to address his involvement in a statement on Twitter, saying "in a moment of extremely poor judgment following the Jan. 6 rally in Washington, I followed hundreds of others through an open set of doors to the Capitol building to see what was taking place inside.". A former CEO and Donald Trump donor who stormed the U.S. Capitol and threw a chair in the direction of police officers during the Jan. 6 attack was sentenced to 30 days incarceration on Friday. Bradley Rukstales, 53, of Inverness, Illinois, and the former CEO of data analytics firm Cogensia, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols. (Brad Rukstales) On the same day the U.S. Department of Justice filed charges in federal court against the mob that stormed the U.S. Capitol building last Wednesday, Bradley Rukstales, a Schaumberg tech firm President and CEO, was fired for his role in the act of domestic terrorism. Mellis is being held at Western Tidewater Regional Jail in Suffolk and is scheduled for a remote bond hearing on Friday in the U.S. District Court in Norfolk. He wasnt there with anything malicious in mind.. This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. Supporters of President Donald Trump storm the steps of the West side of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. The head of a marketing firm outside Chicago who was arrested during the Capitol siege says storming the building was the single worst decision of his life. He was. Heres how. The time is now! Three other people died after suffering medical emergencies related to the breach, said Robert Contee, chief of the citys Metropolitan Police Department. Eric Munchel. Individuals in the crowd forced entry into the U.S. Capitol, including by breaking windows.. Fired tech CEO from Inverness pleads guilty in US Capitol siege on Jan. 6 Bradley Rukstales, who lost his job after being charged in the siege of the U.S. Capitol, is the first Illinoisan to be. The complaint against Leffingwell says he attempted to push past police officers inside the Capitol. I offer my sincere apologies for my indiscretion, and I deeply regret that my actions have brought embarrassment to my family, colleagues, friends and fellow countrymen. Do you have information you want to share with HuffPost? Ives, a former. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. LaRock attended the Jan. 6 Stop the Steal rally in D.C. but said he did not enter the U.S. Capitol. #GoBlue 109 181 1,702 Bradley Rukstales, the 52-year-old CEO and president of Cogensia, confirmed his arrest by Capitol Police for unlawful entry in Washington on Wednesday to WBEZ. When told that the officer who Leffingwell had struck was me, Leffingwell apologized to me for striking me, the complaining officer wrote. I think its horrible that happened. I think its horrible that happened. YouTube Tips Bradley Rukstales of Inverness, Illinois, on Friday, November 12, 2021, was sentenced to 30 days in prison and ordered by U.S. Di Among other things, he is alleged to have explored plans to bring weapons into Washington, D.C., using pickup trucks or boats to transport them across the Potomac River at a critical moment. It is also fair to say that I was personally frustrated and concerned with our countrys political discourse after the 2020 election, Rukstales said. She told the publication she "never saw anything destructive taking place, but that the group she was in sang the national anthem and Twisted SistersWere Not Gonna Take It.". Rukstales, 52, has been a campaign contributor to Trump and was the CEO and president of Cogensia, a marketing consulting firm based in the northwest suburbs of Chicago. F***ing [sic] God bless America., When someone told him about hundreds of protesters getting inside the Capital [sic] Building, Fitzgerald told him, Im here., Another commenter asked for more details on what was happening there, and Fitzgerald replied, Chaos.. "Cogensia condemns what occurred at the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, and we intend to continue to embrace the values of integrity, diversity and transparency in our business operations, and expect all employees to embrace those values as well. As with dozens of other defendants who pleaded guilty to that charge, three other charges were dropped at sentencing under the terms of the plea deal. He has also lived in other parts of the U.S. including California, Indiana, Michigan and Ohio. Rioter who brought his 10-year-old to Capitol gets prison time. 223 replies 734 retweets 2,771 likes Charlie De Mar @CharlieDeMar 7 Jan 2021 Our story Brad Rukstales Of Inverness, Arrested At U.S. Capitol Riot, Apologizes And Expresses Embarrassment 308 replies 445 retweets 1,086 likes Charlie De Mar @CharlieDeMar 8 Jan 2021 A Chicago real estate agent, who was at the scene that day, was also fired from @properties after posting on social media about her attendance. (Libby Andrews). Rukstales was president and CEO of the Schaumburg-based tech company Cogensia. No problem.. My decision to enter the Capitol was wrong, and I am deeply regretful to have done so, he wrote in his statement. Four people lost . A review of online footage and photos of Nancy Pelosis office by law enforcement agents confirms that the posted photos do indeed appear to be photos of her office, the FBI affidavit says. Pro-Trump rioters who invaded the building also stole at least two laptops and one iPad from the offices of three Democratic lawmakers. Steele-Smith was charged with knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority to do and knowingly, and with intent to impede or disrupt the orderly conduct of government business or official functions. He had been the chief executive officer of Schaumburg-based tech company Cogensia. Rukstales offered the following statement Friday evening: I am sorry for my actions that day and accept the courts decision. His ex-wife told a local newspaper that he was a supporter of the president. Fracker and Robertson, two Rocky Mount Police Department officers, were off duty when they entered the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, according to FBI documents. In the 2020 election cycle, Rukstales gave more than $25,000 to then-President Trump's campaign and Republican committees, according to The Associated Press. Bradley Rukstales speaking to local media. WASHINGTON, DC Federal authorities are continuing to investigate hundreds of people in connection with the deadly pro-Trump insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6. It said that, following the declaration of a 6 p.m. curfew in D.C., a Metropolitan Police officer was escorting people past a police line at 7:25 p.m. and noticed a bulge on Alberts right hip. It said Alberts was also wearing a bulletproof vest and carrying a backpack. Just like details about his wife, he is yet to reveal the identity of his family members. . Rukstales, 52, has been a campaign contributor to Trump and was the CEO and president of Cogensia, a marketing consulting firm based in the northwest suburbs of Chicago. roman roads in dorset map, brown vomit after eating chocolate,