BOCA RATON, Fla. – A South Florida man has been sentenced to prison on felony and misdemeanor charges related to his conduct during the Jan. 6, 2021, breach of the U.S. Capitol according to federal authorities.
On Wednesday Richard Cook, 37, of Boca Raton, was sentenced to 18 months in prison, 36 months of supervised release and ordered to pay $2,000 in restitution by U.S. District Judge Reggie B. Walton.
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In May, a federal jury found Cook guilty of civil disorder, a felony, and five misdemeanor offenses, including entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds, engaging in physical violence in a restricted building or grounds, impeding passage through the Capitol grounds or buildings, and act of physical violence in the Capitol grounds or buildings.
The FBI arrested Cook on March 9, 2023, in Florida.
According to a U.S. Department of Justice news release, Cook “was among rioters who repeatedly engaged in violence against law enforcement officers guarding the Capitol” and participated in a confrontation with police in the building’s Lower West Terrace and tunnel areas.
“He entered the tunnel on the Lower West Terrace at approximately 3:12 p.m., making his way into the mob of rioters who were coordinating pushes against police officers while yelling ‘HEAVE HO!’ and ‘PUSH!’” the release states. “Cook entered the tunnel two separate times to assist in the collective pushes against police officers as the rioters tried to gain access to the Capitol building.”
Prosecutors said while Cook joined in the collective pushes, “one police officer screamed in pain as the weight of the rioters’ pushes pinned him between a shield and a door.”
They said Cook was identified as photograph #185 in a montage of images of alleged rioters sought by the FBI.
Cook joins nearly 1,400 people arrested in connection with the attack.