Nathan Donald Pelham

Case Summary

In March of 2021, Nathan Donald Pelham was stopped at the U.S. border, trying to enter Canada between Port Huron, Mich., and Sarnia, Ontario, for work. While he was detained by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the agency located photos and video of Pelham near a door of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, according to federal court records. In one photo, Pelham is reportedly wearing a Proud Boys hat, though he denied any affiliation with the group. Pelham initially denied entering the building to U.S. CBP. However, a month later, a search warrant was obtained for Pelham’s cell phone, which surfaced texts between Pelham and his wife. On Jan. 7, 2021, court records indicate that his wife wrote him: "It’s a good thing you kept your mask on" and "If you have a video of being inside, don’t post it," to which Pelham replied "I know I am smart honey." Federal authorities also used the photos and videos on Pelham's phone to allegedly locate him in surveillance footage from inside the building. In response to being asked why he initially denied entering the building, Pelham said the police had initially directed the crowd that way and that “I did not think about that, honest to God.”

Case History

Pelham pleaded Guilty to one charge: Parading, Demonstrating, or Picketing in a Capitol Building. The other charges are dismissed. Sentenced on 9/13/2023 to credit for time served; $10 special assessment; $500 restitution. Pelham 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.