October 31, 2024 – WASHINGTON – Two Virginia men were found guilty on October 29, 2024 of felony and misdemeanor charges related to their actions during the January 6, 2021 breach of the U.S. Capitol. Their actions and the actions of others disrupted a joint session of the US Congress convened to ascertain and count the electoral votes related to the 2020 presidential elections.

(Pictured above) MAUCK (circled in yellow) and WILLEY (circled in red) watched outside the tunnel as other rioters forcibly dragged a law enforcement officer (circled in blue) into the crowd.

Peter Willey, 37, of Roanoke, Va. (in gray hoodie) and Ethan Mauck, 31, of Troutville, Va. (originally reported to be from Pennsylvania) were both sentenced by U.S. District Judge Ana C. Reyes for a felony count of obstructing law enforcement during a civil disturbance and a misdemeanor count of disorderly conduct in a Capitol building. Judge Reyes will sentence the two men on February 28, 2025.

According to evidence presented during the trial, Willey and Mauck attended the “Stop the Steal” rally in Washington, DC on January 6, 2021 on the National Mall and then headed to the US Capitol building. In open-source videos and photos, Willey and Mauck are seen entering the restricted grounds of the Capitol and advancing toward the bike barricades and police line on the Lower West Plaza.

There, a violent battle ensued between rioters and law enforcement, and law enforcement officials used pepper spray to disperse the crowd as they tried to re-establish a police line and barricade. Mauck is seen in an open-source video in distress while rubbing his eyes, consistent with being hit by pepper spray.

At the Lower West Plaza, as seen in the open source footage, the rioting crowd violently confronted the officers standing guard in the police line. The bike racks were moved and a fight ensued. During the fight, Mauck picked up a downed police bike rack and pushed it toward an officer in riot gear.

At approximately 1:40 p.m., Willey and other rioters began moving a large sign on wheels with a metal frame toward the police line and barricade, using it as a battering ram against law enforcement who were trying to hold the line. As the large sign passed over Willey’s head, Willey put his hands on the frame of the sign and pushed it toward the police line. As officers took control of the large metal sign, Willey is seen blocking his face with his arms and running away from an officer who sent pepper spray against the rioters, including Willey.

Around 2:50 p.m., Willey and Mauck are seen entering the Lower West Terrace tunnel, the site of some of the most violent attacks on law enforcement since January 6. Closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage from inside the tunnel showed rioters, including Mauck and Willey, actively pushing against the police line in unison, known as a “heave-ho”.

At approximately 2:55 pm, Willey grabbed two police shields from another rioter and moved forward, further into the Tunnel and toward the rioters near the police line. Around 2:58 p.m., Mauck, standing at the mouth of the tunnel, took control of a large black loudspeaker and handed it over to the rioters in the tunnel. Eventually, the loudspeaker was thrown at the police line by other rioters.

Both Willey and Mauck exited the tunnel at approximately 3:04 pm. Both men are later seen in the crowd outside the tunnel shortly after this incident, watching as other rioters forcefully drag the two law enforcement officers into the crowd.

The FBI arrested the two men on August 31, 2023.

This case is being prosecuted by the US Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Justice Department’s Homeland Security Counterterrorism Section. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Virginia.

This case is being investigated by the FBI’s Washington Office, which identified Willey as BOLO (Be on the Lookout) #84 on its intelligence photos. Valuable assistance was provided by the US Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department.

In the 45 months since January 6, 2021, more than 1,532 people have been charged in nearly all 50 states with crimes related to trespassing at the U.S. Capitol, including more than 571 people charged with assaulting or obstructing law enforcement, a felony. The investigation remains ongoing.

Anyone with tips can call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or go to tips.fbi.gov.