U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth handed down a sentence of over seven years in prison to Taylor James Johnatakis for his role in leading an ‘attack’ on the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. Videos provided as evidence showed Johnatakis using a megaphone to direct a crowd against a line of police.
Johnatakis allegedly led other rioters on a charge against a police line. Lamberth asserted Johnatakis “barked commands” over his megaphone and gave step-by-step instructions for overpowering law enforcement officers.
“In any angry mob, there are leaders and there are followers. Mr. Johnatakis was a leader. He knew what he was doing that day,” the judge said before sentencing Johnatakis to seven years and three months. The prosecution was seeking a nine-year prison sentence.
Johnatakis was arrested in February 2021 and has been jailed since November 2023, when jurors convicted him of seven counts, including obstruction of the January 6, 2021, joint session of Congress certifying Joe Biden’s 2020 electoral victory. The jury also convicted him of assault and civil disorder charges.
To date, the Biden government has charged approximately 1,350 people with federal crimes related to January 6, including Hollywood actor Nolan Freeman and conservative influencer Isabella DeLuca — who faces charges for touching a table. Over 800 people have been sentenced. One January 6 defendant, Kevin Seefried, was recently released by order of the Supreme Court.
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