What a Boca Raton man did on January 6 to deserve an 18-month prison sentence

WASHINGTON — A Boca Raton man was sentenced to a year and a half in prison Wednesday after being found guilty of felony and misdemeanor charges related to the Jan. 6, 2021, breach of the U.S. Capitol.

Richard Cook, 38, 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, according to the Justice Department.

A federal jury determined that Cook guilty on May 10 of civil disorder—a felony—and five misdemeanors, 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 Capitol grounds or buildings, and act of physical violence on Capitol grounds or buildings.

The Justice Department said evidence showed Cook joined a mob that “relentlessly attacked” police officers in “one of the most violent areas of the Capitol riot” — the Lower West Terrace tunnel.

Court documents indicate Cook entered the tunnel on two occasions to join an attack on police officers as rioters attempted to gain access to the Capitol building.

Prosecutors said Cook initially entered the tunnel around 3:12 p.m. and then pushed his way through the crowd of rioters who were coordinating shoving at police officers while shouting “STOP!” and “PUSH!” They said Cook joined in the collective shoving as one police officer screamed in pain as the weight of the rioters’ shoving pinned him between a shield and a door.

He was pushed out of the tunnel, but remained nearby on the Lower West Terrace, watching the continuing attack.

The Justice Department said Cook remained near the tunnel, watching as rioters committed violent acts against police officers guarding the tunnel entrance, including as rioters dragged a Metropolitan Police Department officer out of the tunnel and “brutally injured the officer.”

“Cook remained near the mouth of the tunnel for several hours as he watched and applauded the continued attack on the officers,” the Justice Department said.

The FBI arrested Cook on March 9, 2023, in Florida.

The DJO said that in the 43 months since January 6, 2021, more than 1,488 people have been charged in nearly all 50 states with crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including nearly 550 people charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement, a felony.

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with tips is asked to call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or visit tips.fbi.gov.