SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A federal judge has sentenced a Sacramento man to 18 months in federal prison for his role in the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol in Washington D.C.
Jorge Riley pleaded guilty earlier this year to obstruction of an official proceeding and aiding and abetting. He originally faced three additional charges, but prosecutors dropped those as part of a plea agreement.
Riley admitted to entering the Capitol and being part of a mob that pushed past law enforcement officers. He posted many photos to Facebook that day, including selfies – some of which were included in court documents. One post said, “Hey We’re storming the Capitol…. what are you doing?” He is also seen in a video on Reddit answering questions outside the U.S. Capitol building, which he had reportedly stormed just moments prior.
Last month, Judge Amit Mehta with the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia sentenced Riley to 18 months at Federal Correctional Institution, Lompoc (FCI Lompoc), a federal prison in Santa Barbara County. That will be followed by two years’ probation. Riley must also pay $2,000 in restitution for damage done to the Capitol, plus a $100 fine.
On Tuesday, Judge Mehta granted Riley’s request to begin his prison sentence on Nov. 28 – a month later than originally proposed – to accommodate a previously scheduled medical appointment.
Riley isn’t the only Northern Californian involved in the insurrection.
The five Northern California residents who were charged for their participation in the Capitol Insurrection are Jorge Riley from Sacramento, Sean McHugh from Auburn, Valerie Ehrke from Colusa County, Tommy Allan from Rocklin and Ricky Willden from Oakhurst.
Where do the other cases stand?
Sean McHugh, of Auburn, pleaded guilty in September to two charges: Assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers using a dangerous weapon; and obstruction of an official proceeding and aiding and abetting. He faced multiple other charges but those were dropped as part of a plea agreement. He admitted to pushing a sign into officers and assaulting them with chemical spray. A judge sentenced him to 6 ½ years in federal prison, with credit for time already served, followed by three years’ probation. The court also ordered McHugh to pay a $200 assessment, $2,000 in restitution for damage to the Capitol and an additional $5,000 fine. On Sept. 17, McHugh filed an appeal of that judgment. That will now go to the U.S. Court of Appeals while McHugh remains imprisoned.
Tommy Allan, of Rocklin, pleaded guilty in Aug. 2022. He admitted to entering the Senate Chamber carrying a U.S. flag and flagpole taken from elsewhere in the Capitol and stealing documents from a desk. He was sentenced to 21 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release.
Ricky Willden, of Oakhurst, pleaded guilty in April 2022. He admitted to spraying a Capitol Police officer with a chemical irritant and entering the Capitol. He was sentenced to two years in prison followed by three years of supervised release.
Valerie Ehrke, of Colusa County, pleaded guilty in the summer of 2021. She admitted to briefly entering the Capitol building. She was sentenced to three years of probation and $500 restitution.
WATCH ALSO:
