WASHINGTON (WKBW) — The United States Attorney's Office in Washington has indicted a Rochester man after he was seen in photos and on video smashing a window at the U.S. Capitol, and threatening to kill then-Vice President Mike Pence and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi.
43-year-old Dominic Pezzola also known as "Spaz" was indicted in federal court on Friday on charges of conspiracy; civil disorder; unlawfully entering restricted buildings or grounds; and disorderly and disruptive conduct in restricted buildings or grounds.
Authorities say Pezzola was also charged with the following
- Obstruction of an official proceeding
- Additional counts of civil disorder and aiding and abetting civil disorder
- Robbery of personal property of the United States
- Assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers
- Destruction of government property; and engaging in physical violence in a restricted buildings or grounds.
Investigators found that Pezzola is a member of the Proud Boys, a group self-described as a “pro-Western fraternal organization for men who refuse to apologize for creating the modern world; aka Western Chauvinists.”
Accompanying documents allege that Pezzola confronted a Capitol Police officer attempting to control the crowd and ripped away the officer’s riot shield, while the officer was physically engaging with individuals who had gathered unlawfully in the west plaza of the Capitol.
