Record at a Glance
- Category
- Jan 6th
- Age in NPR record
- 33
- Location
- Williamsburg, Virginia
- Charges
- Entering and Remaining in a Restricted Building or Grounds; Theft of Government Property
- Case status
- Pleaded guilty; Sentenced
- Presidential action
- Pardon
Case Summary
According to court documents, Ryan Suleski, a federal firearms licensed dealer, was found after a text tip from a TikTok user who sent a link to a video on the social media platform that appeared to be a recording of Suleski speaking to the camera about the riot at the U.S. Capitol. After another search, investigators found a longer video in which Suleski says, "Today was fucking nuts. But we got our point across. We showed how weak their defense was. And we showed Congress that America is tired of being f***ing quiet and that we're about that life." Another witness called in a tip to the FBI and identified Suleski as a person of interest in a photograph on the Metropolitan Police Department's website. That witness also said he had heard from a relative of Suleski who alleged that he had stolen mail from the Capitol. According to court documents, when FBI agents went to Suleski's residence, "he admitted to being inside the Capitol on January 6, 2021, but claimed that he left as soon as he was told to do so." When asked about the allegation of stolen mail, he said he did not take any property from the Capitol. When law enforcement reviewed surveillance footage taken from the Capitol building the day of the riot, the footage captured a person of Suleski's appearance entering the building, heading upstairs, picking up papers outside a known congressman's office and putting the papers inside his backpack. The defendent's sentencing memo filed in court states that he served in the U.S. Army.
Case History
Suleski pleaded Guilty to two charges: Entering and Remaining in a Restricted Building or Grounds, and Theft of Government Property. Sentenced on 10/14/2022 to 60 days incarceration; $500 restitution; $50 special assessment; 60 hours community service. Suleski 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.