North Carolina Man Convicted for Role in January 6 Capitol Riot
WASHINGTON—A North Carolina resident has been found guilty of multiple offenses related to his participation in the January 6, 2021, breach of the U.S. Capitol. The actions of Brett Alan Rotella, also known as Brett Ostrander, 35, of Kannapolis, North Carolina, disrupted a joint session of Congress convened to certify the 2020 presidential election results.
A federal jury in the District of Columbia delivered the verdict on September 11, 2024. Rotella was convicted of three felony charges, including obstruction of law enforcement during a civil disorder and two counts of assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers. Additionally, he was found guilty of three misdemeanor offenses: entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds, and impeding passage through the Capitol grounds or buildings.
U.S. District Judge Randolph D. Moss is scheduled to sentence Rotella on December 13, 2024.
According to court documents and trial evidence, Rotella was identified among the rioters on the West Plaza of the U.S. Capitol at approximately 2:24 p.m. on January 6, 2021. He was noted for his distinctive attire, which included a red skull cap, a black sleeveless puffy vest over a red sleeveless shirt, and white or gray long shorts. He was also carrying a long pole with multiple flags affixed to it at various points during the day.
Police body-worn camera footage captured Rotella approaching a police barricade shortly after his arrival at the West Front. He was seen forcibly pushing the barricade toward a Metropolitan Police Department officer while shouting inflammatory remarks.
At around 2:33 p.m., as the police line on the West Plaza was overwhelmed and forced to retreat, Rotella was observed taking charge of a group of rioters. He directed their movements, signaling with his hand to “hold” and leading them up the southwest stairs toward the Capitol.
Video footage from the Lower West Terrace showed Rotella following retreating officers into the Lower West Terrace Tunnel at approximately 2:40 p.m. This location was the site of some of the most violent attacks against law enforcement that day. Despite pepper balls containing chemical irritants being fired at him, Rotella continued his advance into the Tunnel.
Evidence presented during the trial showed that the mob, including Rotella, breached the Capitol entrance at the Tunnel by smashing the glass pane of one of the locked doors and forcing the doors open. CCTV and body-worn camera footage depicted Rotella entering the Tunnel and joining others in physically assaulting police officers inside. He was seen pushing against police shields and attempting to leverage his body to push through the police line and into the building.
Rotella exited the Tunnel at approximately 2:55 p.m. but remained in the vicinity for about ninety more minutes, joining a large crowd that repeatedly surged against the police line. Further video evidence showed Rotella counting down and leading a coordinated push by the mob against the officers.
Later, Rotella was observed grabbing a large orange ladder and handing it toward the front of the crowd in an apparent attempt to use it against the officers. Video footage showed him pushing the ladder into the Tunnel and pushing against other rioters near him in an effort to breach the police line.
The FBI arrested Rotella on August 29, 2023, in Mooresville, North Carolina.
This case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, along with the Department of Justice National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section. The U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Western and Middle Districts of North Carolina provided valuable assistance.
The investigation is being conducted by the FBI’s Charlotte and Washington Field Offices, which identified Rotella as BOLO (Be on the Lookout) #82 on its seeking information photos. The U.S. Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department also provided valuable assistance.
Since January 6, 2021, more than 1,504 individuals have been charged in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including over 560 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement. The investigation remains ongoing.
