Record at a Glance
- Category
- Jan 6th
- Age in NPR record
- 57
- Location
- Illinois
- Charges
- Parading, Demonstrating, or Picketing in a Capitol Building
- Case status
- Pleaded guilty; Sentenced
- Presidential action
- Pardon
Case Summary
Trudy Castle came to the attention of the FBI because fellow defendant Kimberly DiFrancesco contacted her phone on Jan. 6, 2021, court documents show. Cell records, prosecutors say, showed Castle’s phone used cell sites consistent with the inside of the U.S. Capitol. Castle spent about 30 minutes inside the Capitol with DiFrancesco, according to court documents.The FBI says Castle and DiFrancesco can be seen on surveillance footage entering through the Senate Wing door and walking through the Capitol, including going up and down to the lower level visitor’s center more than once. Castle wore a white jacket, dark pants and a red, white and blue knit “Trump” hat with a pompom, according to the FBI. After leaving the interior of the Capitol, prosecutors say, Castle and DiFrancesco met up with Castle’s adult son. Castle and DiFrancesco were both arrested in Chicago.
Case History
Castle pleaded guilty to Parading, Demonstrating, or Picketing in a Capitol Building. Sentenced 11/22/2022 to 30 months of probation, $2,000 fine, $500 restitution; $10 special assessment. Castle 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.