Capitol Rioter With Ties To White Supremacist Gang Sentenced To 6 Months, Credited As Time Served

A U.S. Capitol rioter named Michael Curzio, who participated in the January 6 insurrection, plead guilty Monday to a misdemeanor.

Curzio, 35, reportedly joined a White supremacist gang while previously in jail for attempted murder, according to CNN. Curzio will be released on Wednesday after time served of six months in prison. He’s been in jail for rioting since being arrested back in January when the notorious incident occurred.

“Mr. Curzio should be sentenced to the six-month statutory maximum,” federal Judge Carl Nichols reportedly said at a hearing. “I am not in a position to be able to impose a longer sentence than that. I think that a six-month sentence is appropriate here. Mr. Curzio will have, in two days, served that entire sentence.”

Curzio is the second Capitol rioter to be sentenced. Roughly 12 or more rioters who plead guilty will be sentenced this summer and in the fall.

It has been reported that other rioters will not serve the maximum sentence of six months as Curzio. His punishment is unique since he has a criminal history and served time in prison until trial. He was previously convicted for shooting his ex-girlfriend’s boyfriend in the chest. While serving time in prison, Curzio joined a White supremacist gang, which he reportedly says he did for protection.

Curzio claims he’s no longer affiliated with the gang, although he still has gang-affiliated tattoos, including swastikas and other Nazi symbols.

“I’m gonna own up,” Curzio said during the virtual hearing conference on Monday. “I did parade, demonstrate, and picket (inside the Capitol). I can’t deny that. You have it on video. I’m not gonna contest it.”

“Curzio pleaded guilty to one count of unlawfully protesting inside the Capitol and agreed to pay $500 to repair damages to the complex. This has become the standard plea deal that the Justice Department has offered to many Capitol rioters who didn’t act violently,” CNN reported.

“Well, I didn’t hear (the police) telling us to leave,” Curzio said when asked if he agreed with the prosecutors’ account of the events that took place leading up to his arrest. “When law enforcement came in and started arresting people, they grabbed me. And obviously, I was in the wrong on that part. Once the officer told me I was under arrest, I was compliant.”

At the end of the hearing, Curzio requested to speak. He reportedly told the judge, “I accept responsibility for my actions and what I did. I want to thank you for being fair.”