America watched hordes of hooligans broke into the US Capitol on January 6 – smashing windows, pressing stairs up and making lawmakers and police officers run for their lives. The flood of protesters who invaded the Capitol that day left federal prosecutors with an equally immense task: finding and prosecuting those responsible.
Earlier this month, US acting prosecutor Michael Sherwin said: “The scope and scale of this investigation in these cases is truly unprecedented, not just in the history of the FBI, but probably in the history of the DOJ.”
So far, federal prosecutors have accused at least 172 people for their alleged roles in the riot and opened more than 400 investigations into possible criminals.
As the police continue to arrest alleged attackers, here’s what CBS News found out about the people who were arrested:
How many were charged?
As of Friday, authorities have accused at least 172 people in federal court, and at least 13 of them have also been indicted by juries.
How many served in the army?
At least 15 of the prisoners are veterans and two are serving in the Army Reserve, according to military service records obtained by CBS News.
Of the 17, seven served in the United States Army, seven served in the Navy, two served in the Navy, and one served in the Air Force.
The Army Reserve shared the following statement with CBS News: “The US Army Reserve takes all allegations of involvement of soldiers or Army civilians in extremist groups seriously and will address this issue in accordance with Army regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice to ensure due process. Ideologies and extremist activities are directly opposed to our values and beliefs and those who adhere to extremism have no place in our ranks. “
Where did they come from?
The protesters come from at least 39 states outside Washington, DC Among the prisoners whose home states were known, most were from Texas and New York, with 18 Texans and 14 New Yorkers accused so far. Other well-represented states include Florida, with 13 inmates, and California, with 11 inmates. New Jersey has nine prisons and Virginia has eight.
How many worked in law enforcement?
At least four people worked as policemen at the time when they allegedly participated in the riot and since then, everyone has quit their jobs. Houston police officer Tam Dinh Pham and Monmouth County correctional officer Marissa Suarez resigned after being arrested, and two Virginia police officers were fired after prosecutors accused them of their alleged conduct on Capitol Hill.
How many have extremist affiliations?
Authorities connected at least 22 alleged protesters to extremist groups, including Proud Boys, Oath Keepers, Three Percenters, Texas Freedom Force and the conspiracy group QAnon.
How many were women?
Although the prisoners in the January 6 mob were mostly men, at least 20 women were arrested for their alleged participation.
How many years were these prisoners?
Among the 46 defendants whose ages are known, the average was 42. The alleged youngest rowdy is 20-year-old Emanuel Jackson, a man from Maryland who prosecutors say they hit the police with a baton. The oldest was Lonnie Coffman, 70, an Alabama man who, according to authorities, brought a car full of weapons and explosives to Washington, DC
Common charges
A large proportion of the alleged troublemakers have been charged with minor crimes, such as trespassing, but prosecutors plan to add charges for more serious crimes as soon as the evidence becomes available. Sherwin said that “almost all” the cases that federal prosecutors have accused involved “significant federal crimes”, with potential sentences ranging from five to 20 years.
Federal prosecutors have accused at least 83 people of “violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds”, a crime that carries a possible sentence of no more than six months in prison, or even five years if paired with an arms violation.
At least 15 people were arrested for allegedly assaulting a police officer, a crime with sentences ranging from one to 20 years, depending on the circumstances of the assault. Prosecutors said on Tuesday that as soon as they have time to review images from the body’s cameras, they hope to charge more people for crimes related to police assaults.
At least seven people have been charged with theft of government property, including Aaron Mostofsky, who was photographed with a US Capitol police riot shield and bulletproof vest and faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted.
How many were released?
At least 55 people were sent home after paying bail or agreeing to a supervised release.
How much evidence is there?
The federal police issued more than 500 subpoenas to the grand jury and search warrants, and the FBI received more than 200,000 digital media tips from people hoping to share evidence of the riot.
Recent updates on notable cases
The FBI increased the reward offered for information leading to the arrest of the person or persons who left bombs in Washington, DC, on January 6.
A Capitol riot known as “QAnon Shaman” offered to witness in the impeachment trial of former President Trump.
A federal judge on Sunday blocked the release of alleged rowdy Eric Munchel, nicknamed “the guy with the tie” on social media after a photo appeared to show him with plastic handcuffs and tactical equipment.
A New York man was loaded Monday after people in his town recognized a high school jacket that he allegedly wore during the Capitol rebellion.
What happens next?
Sherwin said on Tuesday that the rapid rate of arrests will soon begin to stabilize as prosecutors stop accusing the easily identifiable “internet stars” who have appeared in photos and on social media and are starting to build more conspiracy cases involved in coordinating militia groups during the attack.
Paulina Smolinski contributed reporting.