By Jan Wolfe

(Reuters) – The U.S. Justice Department extended its record of victory in jury trials against rioters that stormed Washington’s Capitol Jan. 6, 2021. Friday saw a guilty verdict for a New Jersey defendant facing a felony conviction.

Timothy Hale Cusanelli, who was tried in District of Columbia, was found guilty of five of his charges. He also faced obstruction of an administrative proceeding. A felony with a maximum sentence of 20 years prison time, this felony carries a maximum of 20 years.

U.S. District Court Judge Trevor McFadden will deliver Hale-Cusanelli’s sentence on September 16.

Hale-Cusanelli is a former member of the U.S. Army Reserves who works as a Navy contractor with a “secret” security clearance and access to weapons, prosecutors said.

An informant told investigators that Hale-Cusanelli was “an avowed white supremacist and Nazi sympathizer” who posts online videos espousing extreme political opinions, the Justice Department alleged in court filings.

Hale-Cusanelli, the fifth Capitol Riot defendant, was the first to have his case tried by a jury. All five cases were convicted by the Justice Department.

The two non-jury cases were less fruitful for the prosecution. McFadden was responsible for overseeing both of these trials. He partially acquitted the first defendant and acquitted the second.

The riot was captured on video. It showed Hale Cusanelli shouting at officers and entering the Capitol building after the security breach.

Hale Cusanelli’s defense lawyer claimed his client was unaware that Congress was counting electoral ballots on Jan. 6, 2021. Therefore, he did not have a criminal intention.

Thousands of people stormed the Capitol that day to try to keep Congress from certifying current President Joe Biden’s victory over then-President Donald Trump, a Republican. More than 800 are now facing criminal charges.