Utah Man Pleads Guilty to Assaulting Officers During Capitol Breach
A 49-year-old man from West Jordan, Utah, has pleaded guilty to a felony assault charge for his involvement in the breach of the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. Justin Dee Adams admitted to assaulting, resisting, and impeding certain officers during the incident that disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress.
Adams, a licensed gun dealer, traveled to Washington, D.C., with two companions to protest Congress’ certification of the Electoral College vote. Before the breach, he posted a photo online indicating his intention to physically confront politicians. On the day of the incident, Adams joined a mob on the Upper West Plaza of the Capitol building. His actions were captured on body-worn camera video.
At around 2:04 p.m., Adams confronted the police line defending the building, raising his hands above his head and making physical contact with one or more officers. He then charged at the police line, attacking Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers and striking one wearing a helmet twice in the head.
Approximately nine minutes later, Adams grabbed a metal bicycle rack used by police as a barricade. When an officer tried to stop him, Adams threw a plastic bottle. With assistance from another rioter, Adams managed to remove the bike rack from the police and drag it into the crowd.
Following the events, Adams expressed his satisfaction in a writing, stating that although they had encountered difficulties, they had escaped before the lockdown and gunfire. He added that elected officials were no longer meeting the standards required by the people, but promised that great times were ahead.
Adams was arrested by FBI agents in Utah on October 19, 2022. He pleaded guilty to the assault charge and is scheduled to be sentenced on December 8, 2023, by U.S. District Judge James E. Boasberg.
Since the Capitol breach, there have been over 1,106 arrests in almost all 50 states related to the incident, with more than 350 individuals facing charges of assaulting or impeding law enforcement. The FBI’s Salt Lake City and Washington Field Office, along with the U.S. Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department, played crucial roles in the investigation.
This case was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, with assistance from the Department of Justice National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah also provided valuable support.
Anyone with information related to the Capitol breach can contact the FBI through their dedicated tip line at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or submit tips online at tips.fbi.gov.
As Adams awaits sentencing, this case serves as a reminder of the ongoing efforts to hold individuals accountable for their actions during the Capitol breach. The guilty plea highlights the significant consequences individuals can face when engaging in acts of violence and disruption at the heart of American democracy.
