A North Carolina man has been sentenced to prison for his involvement in the January 6, 2021, breach of the U.S. Capitol. Brett Alan Rotella, also known as Brett Ostrander, was sentenced to 38 months in prison and 36 months of supervised release by U.S. District Judge Randolph D. Moss. He was also ordered to pay $2,000 in restitution.
Rotella was convicted by a federal jury of three felony offenses: obstruction of law enforcement during a civil disorder, two counts of assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers, along with several misdemeanors.
Court documents and trial evidence revealed that on January 6, Rotella was part of a crowd at the West Plaza of the Capitol building. He wore distinctive clothing and carried a pole with flags attached. Police body-worn camera footage showed him pushing a barricade toward an officer while shouting inflammatory remarks.
As police lines were overwhelmed on the West Plaza, Rotella took charge of rioters and directed them up the southwest stairs toward the Capitol. Inside the Lower West Terrace Tunnel—site of intense confrontations—he advanced despite being targeted with pepper balls containing chemical irritants.
Trial evidence indicated that Rotella and others breached the Tunnel entrance by smashing glass panes and forcing doors open. CCTV footage showed him entering and participating in assaults against police officers inside.
Rotella exited the Tunnel but stayed nearby for about ninety minutes, joining surges against police lines. Video captured him coordinating pushes against officers and attempting to use a ladder against them.
The FBI arrested Rotella on August 29, 2023, in Mooresville, North Carolina. The case was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia with assistance from other regional offices and investigated by FBI field offices in Charlotte and Washington.
Since January 6, over 1,572 individuals have been charged nationwide related to Capitol breach crimes; more than 590 faced charges for assaulting or impeding law enforcement—a felony offense. The investigation is ongoing.
Anyone with information can contact authorities at 1-800-CALL-FBI or visit tips.fbi.gov.