Eric Gerwatowski of New Hyde Park sentenced to 24 months probation, 30 days home confinement and $2,000 in restitution
A New York man has been convicted of a felony for his actions during the Jan. 6, 2021, vandalism of the U.S. Capitol. His actions and those of others disrupted a joint session of the United States Congress aimed at identifying and counting relevant electoral votes leading up to the 2020 presidential election.
Eric Gerwatowski, 32, of New Hyde Park, New York, was sentenced today in the District of Columbia to 24 months of probation, 30 days of home confinement, and $2,000 in restitution to the architect of the Capitol , and 60 hours of community service in lieu of any fines for interfering with law enforcement officers during civil unrest.
On Jan. 6, 2021, Gwatowski stood in front of a crowd outside the House of Lords, according to court documents. Capitol Police tried to close the doors to prevent more rioters from entering the building. Gerwatowski pulled open a door that Capitol Police had just closed. He then turned to the mob and yelled, “Let’s go!” and directed more rioters into the building. Then he also entered the building. While inside, Gerwatowski was walking down the hallway and could be heard saying to another thug who was streaming: “They’re raping kids, they’re shooting kids.” He left the Capitol after being inside for about three minutes.
Gerwatowski, who was also interviewed on camera outside the building, said, among other things, “the communists are trying to steal the country” and he believed the election was stolen.
Gerwatowski was arrested in New Hyde Park on February 8, 2022.
The case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Counterterrorism Section of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York provided valuable assistance.
The case is being investigated by the FBI’s New York field office in Long Island and the FBI’s Washington field office, which identified Gerwatowski as #244 in the photo it sought for information. The Metropolitan Police Service and the United States Capitol Police provided invaluable assistance.
In the 26 months since January 6, 2021, nearly all 50 states have seen more than 999 arrests for offenses related to violations of the U.S. Capitol, including more than 320 charges of assault or obstruction of law enforcement. Investigation is still ongoing.
