Record at a Glance
- Category
- Jan 6th
- Age in NPR record
- 51
- Location
- Lake Forest Park, Washington
- Charges
- Entering and Remaining in a Restricted Building or Grounds; Disorderly and Disruptive Conduct in a Restricted Building or Grounds; Entering and Remaining in Certain Rooms in the Capitol Building; Disorderly Conduct in a Capitol Building; Parading, Demonstrating, or Picketing in a Capitol Building
- Case status
- Pleaded guilty; Dismissed in part or full; Sentenced
- Presidential action
- Pardon
Case Summary
The man who federal agents believe to be Joseph Zlab appears easy to spot in news footage of the U.S. Capitol breach. According to court documents, he was dressed in a red hat and jacket, and carried what looks like a reproduction of the Gadsden flag, large and yellow, reading, "Don't Tread on Me." An anonymous tipster to the FBI indicated being informed of Zlab's presence in the Capitol by the tipster's parent. The tipster confirmed it was Zlab when shown a photograph from that day, the documents say. When contacted by an FBI agent, Zlab said he had gone to then-President Donald Trump's speech on Jan. 6, 2021, marched to the Capitol and walked around the outside of the building taking pictures, according to court documents. He did not answer when asked if he entered. But a search warrant executed on Zlab's Google account showed a number of photos organized by date: Under a folder marked "January 6, 2021," there were several photos, including a full shot that appears to be the fresco on the ceiling of the Capitol Rotunda, and a picture of the door to the House Appropriations Room. Video footage appears to indicate that after Zlab took that photo, he entered the room, documents say. Agents conducted surveillance of Zlab and compared a photo taken of him in April with shots from inside the Capitol. According to The Seattle Times, Zlab runs a construction firm called JMZ Contractors in Everett, Wash. According to a sentencing memorandum that Zlab filed in federal court, Zlab served in the U.S. Navy Reserves.
Case History
Zlab pleaded Guilty to one charge: Parading, Demonstrating, or Picketing in a Capitol Building. The other charges are dismissed. Sentenced 4/1/2022 to 36 months probation; 200 hours community service; $5,000 fine; $500 restitution; $10 special assessment. Zlab 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.