An accused Capitol rioter from New Jersey was charged in the siege after gossip from a grandmother made its way to the FBI, according to court papers unsealed this week.
The suspect, Robert Petrosh Jr., of Mays Landing, was charged after an anonymous tipster told the FBI that his grandmother heard from Petrosh’s mother that he stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6 with throngs of Donald Trump supporters.
The tipster added that Petrosh had been “lying low” after a number of the alleged Capitol rioters were arrested in the weeks after the uprising.
Investigators then obtained a copy of Petrosh’s driver’s license and matched his photo to footage that shows him inside the Capitol during the riot, according to the court documents.
Investigators matched Petrosh’s driver’s license to footage from the riot. DOJPetrosh was charged with a number of federal crimes in Washington, DC court, including entering or remaining in any restricted building, disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building, disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds and parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building.
Robert Petrosh was charged with several federal crimes for his role in the riot. DOJHe was released on $50,000 bond at a court appearance earlier this week, NJ.com reported.
Petrosh is one of hundreds who have been arrested after storming the building. Getty ImagesHundreds of rioters who stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6 have been arrested since the uprising.
Five people — including a Capitol police officer — died at or soon after the riot as crowds of Trump supporters stormed the building in an attempt to overturn the 2020 presidential election.
A tipster told the FBI Petrosh was lying low in the weeks after the riot. Getty Images