Missouri Man Sentenced on Felony Weapons Charge for Actions During Jan. 6 Capitol Breach

           WASHINGTON – A Missouri man was sentenced today for carrying a firearm during the breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. His actions and the actions of others disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress convened to ascertain and count the electoral votes related to the 2020 presidential election.

           Jerod Thomas Bargar, 37, of Centralia, MO., was sentenced to five years probation, six months of home confinement, and ordered to pay a $4,000 fine by U.S. District Court Judge Reggie Walton. Bargar pleaded guilty to one felony count of entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds with a deadly or dangerous weapon, a felony, on June 8, 2023.

           According to court documents, Bargar traveled to Washington, D.C., by car with a friend to participate in the "Stop the Steal" rally planned by former President Donald Trump for January 6, 2021. After the rally, Bargar and his friend walked to the U.S. Capitol building, entered onto the restricted Capitol grounds, and participated in the ongoing riot. While on the restricted grounds, Bargar illegally carried a loaded, 9-millimeter semi-automatic pistol. Bargar did not have a license to carry a firearm in Washington, D.C., and the firearm was not registered in Washington, D.C., as required by law.

           This case was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Missouri.

           This case was investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office, with valuable assistance provided by the FBI’s Kansas City Field Office, the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the U.S. Capitol Police, and the Metropolitan Police Department.

           In the 36 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,265 individuals have been charged in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including more than 440 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement, a felony. The investigation remains ongoing.

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

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