Watertown Mother & Son Sentenced on Felony Charges for Jan. 6 Capitol Breach

WASHINGTON – A New York woman and her son were sentenced in the District of Columbia on Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2023, on a felony charge for their actions during the breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Their 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.

Maryann Mooney-Rondon, 57, of Watertown, New York, was sentenced on Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2023, by U.S. District Judge Jia M. Cobb to five years of probation with the first 12 months to be served in home incarceration. In addition to the sentence, Judge Cobb ordered Mooney-Rondon to pay $3,657.51 in restitution, a fine of $7,500, and perform 350 hours of community service. Maryann Mooney-Rondon was found guilty of obstruction of an official proceeding and aiding and abetting the theft of government property on March 27, 2023, following a stipulated bench trial before Judge Cobb.

Rafael Rondon, 25, was sentenced to five years of probation, consecutive to a separate federal sentence in the Northern District of New York, with the first 12 months to be served in home incarceration. In addition to the sentence, Judge Cobb ordered Rondon to pay $2,000 in restitution and perform 350 hours of community service. Rafael Rondon pleaded guilty to felony obstruction of an official proceeding on Dec. 5, 2022.

According to court documents and the stipulated evidence presented in court, on Jan. 6, 2021, Maryann Mooney-Rondon attended a rally on the Ellipse with her son, Rafael Rondon, and then marched to the Capitol, where they illegally entered the grounds. They entered the Capitol building at approximately 2:23 p.m. via the Senate Wing door.

After illegally entering the Capitol, the two moved through the building and, at approximately 2:32 p.m., entered the office suite of the Speaker of the House. Here, they made their way into a conference room, where they assisted an unidentified male in the theft of a laptop computer. They later moved to the Senate Gallery, where each stole an escape hood with a satchel, a filtering respiratory protective device maintained for members of Congress and staff.

The pair then exited the Capitol building at approximately 2:52 p.m.

Maryann Mooney-Rondon and Rafael Rondon were arrested on Oct. 1, 2021, in Syracuse, New York.

The case is being investigated by the FBI Albany Field Office and the FBI’s Washington Field Office, which identified Maryann Mooney-Rondon as #225 and Rafael Rondon as #224 in its seeking information photos. Valuable assistance was provided by the Metropolitan Police Department and the U.S. Capitol Police.

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 Northern District of New York.

In the 34 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,200 individuals have been charged in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including more than 400 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.