Record at a Glance
- Category
- Jan 6th
- Age in NPR record
- 27
- Location
- Mahopac, New York
- Charges
- Parading, Demonstrating, or Picketing in a Capitol Building
- Case status
- Pleaded guilty; Sentenced
- Presidential action
- Pardon
Case Summary
On Jan. 6, 2021, Robert Ballesteros posted a video on his Instagram account from inside the U.S. Capitol, according to court documents. The next day, a person who had known him for years turned him in to the FBI, which later recovered a conversation on his Instagram account. In the exchange, Ballesteros is asked whether he stormed the building. He replies: "Put my foot in that door" and "Made my stand."
Case History
Ballesteros pleaded Guilty to the single charge. Sentenced 4/28/2022 to 36 months probation; 40 hours of community service; $500 restitution; $10 special assessment. Ballesteros 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 - Supporting Reporting
NPR video evidence pageNPR
Case summary, charges, procedural updates and image are drawn from the NPR Jan. 6 archive snapshot dated 2026-09-25 unless otherwise indicated.