Former HPD Officer Pleads Guilty To Involvement In Capitol Riot

HOUSTON, TX — A former Houston Police Department officer pled guilty to his involvement in the Capitol riots of Jan. 6 on Monday.

Richmond resident Tam Dinh Pham pled guilty to parading, demonstrating and picketing in a Capitol building, which carries a maximum sentence of six months in jail and a fine of up to $5,000, court documents show.

His sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 9.

Pham resigned from the Houston Police Department in January after pictures of his presence at the Capitol during the riots surfaced. He served with HPD for 18 years.

Pham attended a rally held by President Donald Trump on Jan. 6 before following the crowd to the Capitol, according to court documents. He admitted to entering the Capitol and remaining there for 10 to 15 minutes to take pictures.

Pham initially lied to federal investigators about his presence at the Capitol but admitted to being there after the investigators found photos showing him in the building in the deleted photos folder on his smartphone, according to an affidavit filed with the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.

Pham was initially charged with knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority, and violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds.