Florida Man Convicted on Misdemeanor Charges for Actions During the Jan. 6 Breach of the U.S. Capitol

Press Release

Defendant Was Arrested When He Returned for the Inauguration

WASHINGTON - A Florida man was convicted today of misdemeanor offenses related to his conduct during the Jan. 6, 2021, breach of the U.S. Capitol. His actions and the actions of others disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress convened to ascertain and count the electoral votes related to the 2020 presidential election.

Samuel Pinho Camargo, 30, of Broward County, Fl., was found guilty by U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson on a misdemeanor count of assaulting certain officers. He also was found guilty on a misdemeanor charge of entering or remaining in a restricted building.

Judge Berman Jackson scheduled sentencing for October 21, 2024.

FBI agents arrested Camargo on January 20, 2021, in Washington D.C. where he had traveled for the Inauguration.

According to court documents, on Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington, D.C., Camargo, as shown through his social media postings, participated at different parts of a rally within the District earlier in the day. Then, as shown through his social media postings, Camargo moved toward the U.S. Capitol and engaged in the unlawful, disorderly, and violent conduct that occurred on the U.S. Capitol Grounds. Social media postings made by Camargo show him with a metal piece of an unknown structure from the US. Capitol Building or Grounds with the admission that he "got some memorabilia, did it myself."

Further videos that Camargo posted on Instagram show him at the bottom level of the west side steps to the U.S. Capitol, within a large crowd that is waiving multiple banners. The video shows the crowd amassed in the area of the planned Inauguration, with some of the participants on scaffolding that had been set up for the Inauguration. This area is within the U.S. Capitol Grounds. Another video clip shows Camargo at one of the doorways to the U.S. Capitol Building, using his mobile phone to record his struggle with the U.S. Capitol Police over opening a door to the Capitol Building.

About 2:50 p.m., Camargo scaled down the wall of the Inaugural Stage onto the Upper West Terrace. He approached a line of officers who were attempting to clear rioters from the area and to prevent them from further breaching the Capitol building. As Camargo approached these officers, he climbed onto a metal bike rack, spat towards the officers and subsequently threw an object at them. Camargo continued to approach the line of officers on the Upper West Terrace and joined other rioters on the steps where officers held the police line. At approximately 2:51 pm, while in close proximity to officers, Camargo spat at an officer from the Metropolitan Police Department. Camargo continued to antagonize officers holding this line by yelling at them, approaching them, and spitting in their direction.

Camargo later made a post apologizing for his actions on January 6, 2021 "while at the Capitol in D.C." On January 7, 2021, when contacted by an FBI agent about his actions, Camargo admitted that he was in Washington, D.C. on January 6, 2021, and that he had returned to his home in Broward County, Florida. Then he became uncooperative and questioned the agent's loyalty to the U.S. Constitution before saying he had no more information to provide. Following this interview, Camargo posted on social media: "Just finished speaking to an FBI agent, I believe I've been cleared."

A criminal complaint and an arrest warrant were issued on January 15, 2021.

This case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice National Security Division's Counterterrorism Section. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida.

This case is being investigated by the FBI's Miami and Washington Field Offices, with valuable assistance provided by the U.S. Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department.

In the 43 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,488 individuals have been charged in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including nearly 550 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement, a felony. The investigation remains ongoing.

Anyone with tips can call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or visit tips.fbi.gov.

Updated August 8, 2024