Texas Man Sentenced for Assaulting Law Enforcement During Jan. 6 Capitol Breach (original) (raw)

WASHINGTON – A Texas man was sentenced on March 21, 2024, after he pleaded guilty to a felony offense related to his conduct 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.

Adam Lejay Jackson, 43, of Katy, Texas, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Rudolph Contreras to 36 months probation, a condition of which will be to serve 52 consecutive weekends in jail, as well as home confinement. Jackson was also ordered to pay 2,000inrestitutionandafineof2,000 in restitution and a fine of 2,000inrestitutionandafineof4,392 . Jackson pleaded guilty on Sept. 29, 2023, to one count of assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers using a dangerous weapon.

According to court documents, on Jan. 5, 2021, Jackson traveled from Texas to Washington, D.C., via plane, with his co-defendant, brother, Brian Jackson, and a friend to protest Congress' certification of the Electoral College. On the morning of January 6th, Jackson, his brother, and his friend attended the “Stop the Steal” rally at the Ellipse. After the rally, the three men went back to their hotel, where they hung out and drank alcohol. Later that afternoon, they went to the Capitol, and arrived at the Peace Circle at about 3:38 p.m.

Court documents say that while on the West Plaza of the U.S. Capitol, Jackson, made several statements to other rioters heavily outfitted in tactical military gear who were walking by, including “Are we going in?”, “We got your back; let’s go”, “Hey, you know what - if one goes, we all go”, and “What are we doing standing here? Let’s go!”

At approximately 4:15 p.m., amid a crowd of rioters densely assembled on the Lower West Terrace, Jackson and his friend climbed to the top of a ladder. From this vantage point, Jackson watched the violence taking place at the mouth of the Lower West Terrace Tunnel. The Tunnel was the site of some of the most violent attacks against law enforcement on January 6th. Rioters at the Tunnel battled police officers for hours as they attempted to storm the Capitol building. Police retreated inside the Tunnel to protect an entrance to the Capitol building. Jackson used his cell phone to make a video of what was happening at the Tunnel, often zooming in to focus on the aggressive conduct of the rioters. Jackson cheered on and exhorted the efforts of the rioters.

At about 4:57 p.m., Jackson had gathered with other rioters on the Lower West Terrace near the Tunnel. Jackson had recently obtained possession of a stolen police shield. At this time, Jackson assaulted the officers in the Tunnel, first by heaving a large, red/orange cone-like object at the police line, and then by charging at and ramming the line with a police riot shield. Court documents say that Jackson took a running start up the top portion of the stairs and slammed into the frontline officers with all the force he could muster.

As a result of the assault, two frontline officers who bore the brunt of this collision lost their balance and fell to the ground. After the collision, Jackson and company celebrated by gesturing and shouting.

A few days later, on January 10, Jackson engaged in a conversation with another individual on Facebook. The individual stated to Jackson, “Looks like you guys were all up in it!” to which Jackson replied, “We were. I’m f—ing pissed at what is happening and the things that are being covered up.” The individual then asked Jackson, “Are you going back for inauguration?” to which Jackson replied, “I’m gonna do my best to get there. Working on it.”

The FBI arrested Jackson on June 7, 2022, in Katy, Texas.

The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice National Security Division's Counterterrorism Section prosecuted this case. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Texas provided valuable assistance.

The FBI's Houston and Washington Field Offices investigated this case. The U.S. Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department provided valuable assistance.

In the 38 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,358 individuals have been charged in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including more than 486 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.