Boca Raton man sentenced to prison for activities during Jan. 6 breach of U.S. Capitol

WASHINGTON DC (CBS12) — A Boca Raton man has been sentenced to prison after being found guilty of participating in the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.

Richard Cook, 38, of Boca Raton, was sentenced to 18 months in prison. After his release, he must serve 36 months of probation and pay $2,000 in restitution.

The Justice Department had previously stated that evidence suggested Cook was part of a group that instigated violent attacks on police officers in the Lower West Terrace Tunnel, one of the most violent areas during the unrest.

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Cook is said to have entered the tunnel twice, each time participating in a coordinated push against the police officers. During Cook's attempts to push through the police, he is said to have shouted “HEAVE HO!” and “PUSH!”

During a joint operation against Capitol Police in which Cook was involved, a police officer screamed in pain as he was trapped between a shield and a door, according to documents from the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Officers reportedly managed to get the situation under control, including Cook, and force them out of the tunnel. Cook remained at the tunnel for several hours, cheering on rioters who violently attacked police officers.

The FBI arrested Cook in Florida on March 9, 2023.

Forty-three months have passed since the events of January 6, 2021, and more than 1,400 people in all 50 states have been charged with crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol.