Miguel Zapata, also known as Michael Zapata, is accused of making seven false tips to the FBI.
WASHINGTON — A former government employee was arrested this week and charged with a felony for allegedly providing the FBI with information falsely accusing at least seven people of participating in the Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol riot.
Miguel Eugenio Zapata, aka Michael Zapata, was charged with making materially false statements to law enforcement. He was arrested in Chantilly, Virginia, on Thursday, made his first appearance in federal court in Washington, D.C., and was released on recognizance bond.
According to charging documents, between February 10 and April 11, 2021, the FBI filed at least seven anonymous reports alleging that seven different government employees and contractors were involved in the January 6 riot. Information received. According to the statement of facts, the information identified these individuals or groups as being present at the Capitol or attending “for the purpose of assisting these groups in overthrowing the United States government” and classified information. He claims to have shared the .
Although the tips came from four different IP addresses, investigators were able to track them to one account on a web anonymizer allegedly owned by Zapata. Zapata is a former government employee who previously worked with all seven people named in the tip, according to the indictment.
Investigators said Zapata made various accusations against the seven people in the information, including that they were involved in extremist groups and helped break through police barricades.
- One tip regarding two individuals dated February 10, 2021, alleged that an individual was “actively involved in an attempt to overthrow the United States government.”
- Another tip, dated February 16, 2021, alleges that two others “participated in the Capitol riot and insurrection and were present during the storming of the Capitol.”
- A third tip, made the same day, alleges that one of them “played an active role in leading the insurrection and storming the U.S. Capitol.” [sic] The purpose is to find politicians and execute them. ” The tip also claimed that the person boasted of ties to the Boogaloo Bois, Proud Boys, and Oath Keepers and shared classified information with them.
However, investigators determined that none of the individuals named in the tip were in Washington, D.C., or involved in the storming of the Capitol on Jan. 6 and were actually working at the time of the riot. Their positions within the government have not been disclosed, but charging documents say at least five of them held classified status at the time of the tip.
In addition to providing information to the FBI, Mr. Zapata also sent anonymous reports to at least some of the individuals' employers, according to the statement of facts.
According to the statement of facts, investigators also obtained records showing Zapata conducted research on some individuals using web anonymization devices and searched for disposable or “burner” email and phone number services. We were able to.
Zapata was ordered to appear in federal court for a preliminary hearing on May 23. He represented federal officials in Washington, D.C., according to court records.
