2 FL Oath Keepers Sentenced In Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol Attack: U.S. DOJ

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA — Two Southwest Florida residents were among four members of the Oath Keepers who were sentenced for their role in the Jan. 6, 2021, storming of the U.S. Capitol building.

On Jan. 23, following a seven-week trial, the four men, including Joseph Hackett, 53, of Sarasota and David Moerschel, 45, of Punta Gorda were convicted of seditious conspiracy, conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, obstruction of an official proceeding and conspiracy to prevent Members of Congress from discharging their official duties, according to a Department of Justice news release.

Hackett was also found guilty of destruction of evidence.

They were part of a pro-President Donald Trump mob that breached the building in protest of Joe Biden’s win in the 2020 presidential election. Their goal was to disrupt a joint session of U.S. Congress that was counting and affirming electoral votes.

• Also Read: 2 FL Oath Keepers Convicted In Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol Attack: Report

The Oath Keepers is a large but loosely organized group of individuals, some of whom have ties to militias. Though the group will accept anyone as members, they explicitly focus on recruiting current and former military, law enforcement and first-responder personnel, the DOJ said. Members and affiliates of the Oath Keepers were among the individuals and groups who forcibly entered the Capitol building.

During their recent sentencing, Hackett was given 42 months in prison followed by 36 months of supervised release, the DOJ said.

Meanwhile, Moerschel was sentenced to 36 months in prison followed by 36 months of supervised release.

Roberto Minuta, 39, of Texas was sentenced to 54 months in prison followed by 36 months of supervised release, and Edward Vallejo, 64, of Arizona was sentenced to 36 months in prison followed by 36 months of supervised release.

In the months leading up to Jan. 6, 2021, the men and their co-conspirators plotted to oppose the lawful transfer of presidential power by force, the DOJ said. This included amassing an armed "quick reaction force" on the outskirts of the District of Columbia.

They started coordinating their travel to Washington, D.C. on or around Jan. 6, 2021, in late December 2020, using encrypted and private communications applications. They planned to bring weapons with them to support their efforts to disrupt the certification of the electoral college vote. When they arrived in the area in early January 2021, they brought paramilitary gear and supplies, including guns, tactical vests with plates, helmets and radio equipment, the DOJ said.