Record at a Glance
- Category
- Jan 6th
- Age in NPR record
- 29
- Location
- Wisconsin
- Charges
- Entering and Remaining in a Restricted Building or Grounds; Disorderly and Disruptive Conduct in a Restricted Building or Grounds; Violent Entry or Disorderly Conduct; Parading, Demonstrating, or Picketing in a Capitol Building
- Case status
- Pleaded guilty; Dismissed in part or full; Sentenced
- Presidential action
- Pardon
Case Summary
Brandon Nelson told FBI agents that U.S. Capitol police were guiding people into the building during the riot on Jan. 6, 2021, according to a court affidavit. He and his friend Abram Markofski drove from Madison, Wis., to Washington, D.C., to attend former President Donald Trump’s rally. Nelson allegedly told agents they remained in a room with a dome-like ceiling for about 20 minutes before following the crowd into another room. Stills from surveillance footage included in the court affidavit show the pair snapping cellphone photos inside the Capitol. Nelson said they remained in the building for approximately 40 minutes before leaving to drive back to Wisconsin. According to a sentencing memorandum filed in federal court, Nelson was enlisted in the Air National Guard from 2012 to 2018, and was a reservist from 2018 until 2020.
Case History
Nelson pleaded Guilty to one charge: Parading, Demonstrating, or Picketing in a Capitol Building. The other charges were dismissed. Sentenced 12/10/2021 to 24 months of Probation; $500 dollars in restitution; a fine in the amount of $2,500.00; a special assessment of $10.00; 50 hours of community service. Nelson 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.