Former Virginia Police Sergeant Sentenced for Storming the Capitol
On August 11, the Justice Department turned up the heat on a former police sergeant from Virginia who helped lead the Jan 6, 2021 riot that saw thousands of Trump supporters breach the U.S. Capitol.
Who’s in the Spotlight?
- Thomas Robertson – a former sergeant in Rocky Mount, Virginia, who was handed a seven‑year, three‑month prison term.
- Guy Reffitt – a friend of the far‑right Three Percenters militia who received the exact same sentence a few days earlier.
These two men now share the record for the longest prison sentence given to anyone guilty of participating in the Capitol riot.
Why This Case Stands Out
- Robertson was convicted of six criminal charges, including obstructing an official proceeding and obstruction of justice.
- The prosecutors pushed for an eight‑year sentence, saying Robertson abused his law‑enforcement position.
- Despite that, the judge gave 7 y 3 m – the longest so far, though still shy of the requested eight years.
Weapon‑Shopping and a Bad Case of Loopholes
While in pre‑trial detention, Robertson was found violating court orders by buying what prosecutors described as an “arsenal” of firearms online. FBI agents discovered:
- A loaded M4 rifle in his home.
- A partially assembled pipe bomb.
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In the Courtroom
The prosecution painted Robertson as a planned violent participant, even going as far to detail a packed rucksack full of:
- Gas masks for himself and his former subordinate, Jacob Fracker.
- Military food rations.
- Water.
- A large wooden stick.
They also claimed he used his police training to block officials trying to keep the mob in line.
Judge‑letter & Apology
In a letter to the judge, Robertson admitted full responsibility but blamed “pro‑Trump, anti‑Biden” media for pushing him into the rabbit hole of election conspiracy theories. He said he had been drinking heavily to cope with stress and that he had forgotten he was not actually trying to disrupt Congress.
Co‑operation—The “Deal” That Paid Off
Jacob Fracker, a former police report, chose to cooperate with the Justice Department. He found himself out of jail by pledging guilty to a felony conspiracy, and prosecutors are hoping the judge will set:
- A six‑month probation term.
- A community confinement or home‑detention condition.
Fracker, for whom the trial was arguably in the “abunch of b4” rising, should be sentenced on August 16.
Bottom Line
While Robertson’s sentence was a mile short of what prosecutors demanded, it sits firmly at the top of the list for Capitol riot defendants. He is now locked behind bars for $7\,y\,3\,m before he gets to turn his life around—and maybe learn a lesson about the difference between a police badge and a capitol wall click‑though.
