Ronald Sandlin gets years behind bars for January 6 crimes

Ronald Sandlin (via FBI Court Record)

A donald trump Supporter who brought multiple guns to Washington, D.C. before Jan. 6, 2021, and yelled at law enforcement officers that they were “die” and “get out of the way” as rioters rampaged through the building that day to more than five years in prison sentenced.

Ronald Sandin35, is said to have played an important role in ramping up violence against law enforcement in the Capitol, who were trying to beat back the mob of Trump supporters who wanted to stop Congress from certifying Joe Bidens Victory in the 2020 presidential election on January 6th. According to prosecutors, the defendant did extensive planning in advance, posting on Facebook that he was organizing a caravan to travel to Washington and soliciting donations as part of a GoFundMe campaign.

He and his alleged co-conspirators Nathaniel DeGrave and Josiah Coltallegedly discussed “shipping guns” to Sandlin’s Tennessee home, where they are believed to have loaded a rental car with guns — including pistols, ammo magazines, bear maces, gas masks, a stun gun, body armor, knives and more walkie-talkies — before the March 5 January heads towards the nation’s capital.

As he joins the crowd at the Capitol on January 6, Sandlin can be heard shouting, “We made history” and “God is on our side,” according to the government. While inside the rotunda, the trio approached a group of US Capitol Police officers standing guard outside the rotunda doors, surrounded by dozens of people.

“Get out of the way,” Sandlin yelled at the officers as he approached them.

“Your life isn’t worth it today,” Sandlin also shouted, adding, “You’re going to die, get out of the way.”

Sandlin was also seen smoking marijuana inside the building after pushing past a line of police officers who had pleaded guilty to two felonies. He also allegedly deleted several messages reflecting blame for the Capitol riot.

He pleaded guilty to two crimes in September: conspiracy to obstruct an official process and assault, resisting or obstructing a police officer.

In their sentencing note, prosecutors not only emphasized Sandlin’s actions that day, but also his apparent lack of remorse since. They specifically referenced a letter from Sandlin, published in the conservative Gateway Pandit in October, in which Sandlin alleges that his “vindictive and selective prosecution is deliberately designed to intimidate any perceived political threat to the Biden regime.”

The previous month, in September, Sandlin was charged with inciting a riot and threatening behavior during an incident at the DC prison. According to court records, a correctional officer struggled to hold an inmate, Sandlin, next to him Barton Shively and Ryan Nichols held chairs “in a threatening manner” toward the officer and “in a throwing stance” in an apparent attempt to attack that officer and others.

Prosecutors also found that while incarcerated, Sandlin had made another fundraising attempt on a conservative crowdfunding website, where he said he was a “Mexican J6-er political prisoner in DC’s Gitmo,” who subjected to a “politically biased justice system”.

Prosecutors argued that Sandlin tried to cash in on his videos by allegedly instructing a friend to “watermark his footage from inside the Capitol so he could send potential buyers a sample,” and his ex- Told fiance he wanted to write a book about his “journey” and make a movie out of it. The memo also hinted at a possible attempt to sell his footage to a documentary filmmaker Alexandra Pelosi – Daughter of the longtime Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), who was personally targeted and whose office was ransacked during the attack on the Capitol — though a footnote says no deal appears to have been reached.

Sandlin filed a letter to the US District Judge Dabney Frederick expression of some regret.

“I would like to begin by apologizing to the officers I assaulted on January 6,” Sandlin said in his letter. “I must live with my heinous acts for the rest of my life and I pray that my conviction will bring peace and resolve to you and your families.”

“I would like to apologize to my countrymen for the role I took on on January 6th,” Sandlin also wrote. “I marred our great nation’s peaceful transfer of power and I am truly ashamed, embarrassed and sorry for my actions.”

“I know the court is used to crocodile tears and fake and insincere apologies, but I hope the court can see my sincerity and authenticity of my repentance,” he said.

For his part, Friedrich, a Trump-appointed man, did not seem to buy Sandlin’s apology. according to a court report of Politico, Friedrich cited several aggravating factors during Sandlin’s sentencing, including calling the DOJ corrupt, saying the prosecutor was racist, disseminating false information about January 6, calling the prosecution a “witch hunt,” and claiming to be a victim.

SIDE NOTE: If Trump is ever indicted over January 6 matters, he should hope he doesn’t get Judge Friedrich. Things she said upset Sandlin:

-Call the Department of Justice corrupt
-Appeal of the prosecutor racist
– Spreading false information about J6
– Calling sample a witch hunt
-claim victim role

— Kyle Cheney (@kyledcheney) December 9, 2022

Sandlin’s sentence will be followed by 36 months of supervised release. He must also pay $2,000 in compensation for the estimated $2.7 million in damage to the Capitol.

The 63-month sentence is on the lower end of the federal guidelines’ range, which had contemplated up to 78 months behind bars, but it’s exactly what prosecutors had called for under the plea agreement. Although prosecutors had also sought a $20,000 fine, Friedrich appears not to have been fined.

Sandlin had sought 41 months in prison, followed by an indefinite period of supervised release.

DeGrave pleaded guilty in June to two felonies: conspiracy to obstruct an official process and assault, resisting, or obstructing an official. His sentencing is scheduled for February.

Colt pleaded guilty in July 2021 and also agreed to cooperate in the government investigation. He’s awaiting sentencing.

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