Record at a Glance
- Category
- Jan 6th
- Age in NPR record
- 31
- Location
- Huntington Beach, California
- Charges
- Parading, Demonstrating, or Picketing in a Capitol Building
- Case status
- Pleaded guilty; Sentenced
- Presidential action
- Pardon
Case Summary
Brandon Cavanaugh, also known as Scott Russo, allegedly described his cannibalistic, violent desires to kill Black people and those who support them in a private Telegram chat with another U.S. Capitol riot suspect, according to an FBI statement of facts. Court documents say Cavanaugh’s screen name included the term “Groyper,” a reference to a White nationalist movement. The FBI claims surveillance footage and open source videos show Cavanaugh carrying a large blue “AF” (America First) flag through various parts of the Capitol building over a 13-minute span on Jan. 6, 2021. “I just got back from the capitol!! I got inside!!” Cavanaugh allegedly wrote on the video live-streaming service DLive a day after the riot, according to the FBI. “Wish you could make it we need to be out in force.” According to the FBI, Cavanaugh interned at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in 2019 as a chemical propulsion and fluid flight systems engineer.
Case History
Cavanaugh pleaded Guilty to the charge. Sentenced on 4/26/2023 to 24 Months Probation; 14 days of intermittent confinement; $10 Special Assessment; Restitution of $500; Fine of $1,000. Cavanaugh received a full pardon on January 20, 2025
Sources
- Primary Documentation
NPR Jan. 6 Defendant DatabaseNPR - Primary Documentation
Underlying court recordCourt record linked by NPR
Case summary, charges, procedural updates and image are drawn from the NPR Jan. 6 archive snapshot dated 2026-09-25 unless otherwise indicated.