Edward Vallejo, a Phoenix resident who participated in the January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol, was denied his request for release pending an appeal of his three-year prison sentence.
Authorities say that Vallejo was in charge of a “Quick Reaction Force” stationed at a Virginia hotel. This force was ready to deploy a variety of weapons into Washington if necessary.
In January, he was found guilty of seditious conspiracy, which is the most severe charge that the Justice Department has pressed in relation to the Jan. 6 assault, in addition to several other charges.
Instructed by U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta, Vallejo was made aware that he cannot conspire to overturn the election results solely based on his and his accomplices’ belief that the process didn’t work in their favor.
In August 2023, Vallejo began serving his sentence. However, after a ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court in June 2024 that stated the charge of “obstructing an official proceeding” must include the defendant’s attempt to tamper with or destroy documents, he filed an appeal.
Vallejo has been found guilty of not only obstructing justice but also committing seditious conspiracy and conspiring to prevent an officer from performing their duties.
According to the ruling by the District of Columbia judge, Vallejo’s appeal does not raise a significant legal question. The judge further stated that even if the appeal is successful, it is unlikely to result in a reduced sentence that is less than the time Vallejo has already served, plus the duration of the appeal process.
The judge wrote that while the defendant was right about the lengthy appellate process, there was not enough evidence to suggest that his sentence would be significantly reduced, or reduced at all.
The judge took into account the involvement of the Oath Keeper defendants in the planning and execution of the events that took place on January 6th. The sentencing factors were weighed accordingly, and it was noted that those who were involved in organizing and planning, as well as those who used force, received harsher sentences. On the other hand, those who were mere followers and did not engage in violent acts received comparatively lighter sentences.
According to the court’s ruling, Vallejo was not considered a leader or organizer, but he was deemed more responsible than others due to his role as the Quick Reaction Force. The court found that he was willing to bring weapons to the Capitol if instructed to do so by Stuart Rhodes, the group’s leader.
According to Judge Mehta, there is no guarantee for a sentence reduction.
The D.C. Circuit has yet to hear Vallejo’s appeal.
As of now, he is incarcerated in a low-security prison located in Beaumont, Texas. His release date has been scheduled for July 2025.
