Feds claim a Jan. 6 rioter attempted to enlist in the Russian military for the conflict against Ukraine
Prosecutors urged a judge to incarcerate Kevin Loftus for breaching the conditions of his probation.
TroibNews 
A man currently on probation for his involvement in the Jan. 6 attack allegedly tried to escape the country in order to enlist in the Russian military's fight against Ukraine, according to prosecutors.
“His intent was not a temporary trip; he intended to permanently relocate to another country,” prosecutors stated on Wednesday in a six-page memo directed to U.S. District Judge Dabney Friedrich. “And his planned travel was for the express purpose of joining a foreign army to take up arms against one of this country’s allies and in opposition to this country’s foreign policy.”
Prosecutors are advocating for a six-month jail sentence for Kevin Loftus—the maximum penalty he could face for his misdemeanor offense at the Capitol—due to his violation of probation.
This development is an unusual twist in a case that stemmed from the events of Jan. 6, 2021, when a crowd of Donald Trump supporters stormed the Capitol in an effort to disrupt the transition of power to Joe Biden. Although Trump has indicated he may pardon many involved in the riot, the extent of those pardons remains uncertain.
Loftus, a former active-duty soldier in the U.S. Army for six years, pleaded guilty in 2021 to a misdemeanor charge of parading in the Capitol. He acknowledged trespassing in the building and taking photos while he was inside. In March 2022, Friedrich sentenced him to three years of probation.
According to prosecutors, Loftus attempted to board a flight from Dallas to Tbilisi, Georgia, on October 28 but was stopped when Turkish Airlines flagged him for security reasons. Two days later, he traveled several hundred miles north of Dallas without following the court's requirement to seek approval before leaving northern Texas. Loftus was arrested in Iowa on October 31.
Following his arrest, prosecutors claim Loftus confessed he aimed to obtain a 90-day visa to move from Georgia to Russia, where he hoped to seek temporary residency. He also disclosed that he had already sent $1,200 to support the purchase of supplies for Russian soldiers.
“Loftus said his intent was to fight for Russia and against Ukraine,” prosecutors reported.
An FBI examination of Loftus' phone revealed that he had been in contact on Telegram with an individual using the name “GrishaPutin,” who was advising him on travel to Russia.
“Among several topics discussed between the two, Loftus discussed taking ‘2 russian language lessons a week’ specifically with an ‘asylum and artillery focus,’” the FBI discovered. “Grisha provided Loftus in-depth instructions on how to report to Russian authorities and the necessary logistics Loftus should know as a foreigner attempting to join the Russian military. This included a list of items to bring in preparation for entering Russia and volunteering with the Russian military.”
Loftus is not the first defendant from the Jan. 6 riot to seek to flee the country; the FBI has also sought assistance in capturing Evan Neumann, who is suspected to be living in Belarus.
James del Carmen for TROIB News
“His intent was not a temporary trip; he intended to permanently relocate to another country,” prosecutors stated on Wednesday in a six-page memo directed to U.S. District Judge Dabney Friedrich. “And his planned travel was for the express purpose of joining a foreign army to take up arms against one of this country’s allies and in opposition to this country’s foreign policy.”
Prosecutors are advocating for a six-month jail sentence for Kevin Loftus—the maximum penalty he could face for his misdemeanor offense at the Capitol—due to his violation of probation.
This development is an unusual twist in a case that stemmed from the events of Jan. 6, 2021, when a crowd of Donald Trump supporters stormed the Capitol in an effort to disrupt the transition of power to Joe Biden. Although Trump has indicated he may pardon many involved in the riot, the extent of those pardons remains uncertain.
Loftus, a former active-duty soldier in the U.S. Army for six years, pleaded guilty in 2021 to a misdemeanor charge of parading in the Capitol. He acknowledged trespassing in the building and taking photos while he was inside. In March 2022, Friedrich sentenced him to three years of probation.
According to prosecutors, Loftus attempted to board a flight from Dallas to Tbilisi, Georgia, on October 28 but was stopped when Turkish Airlines flagged him for security reasons. Two days later, he traveled several hundred miles north of Dallas without following the court's requirement to seek approval before leaving northern Texas. Loftus was arrested in Iowa on October 31.
Following his arrest, prosecutors claim Loftus confessed he aimed to obtain a 90-day visa to move from Georgia to Russia, where he hoped to seek temporary residency. He also disclosed that he had already sent $1,200 to support the purchase of supplies for Russian soldiers.
“Loftus said his intent was to fight for Russia and against Ukraine,” prosecutors reported.
An FBI examination of Loftus' phone revealed that he had been in contact on Telegram with an individual using the name “GrishaPutin,” who was advising him on travel to Russia.
“Among several topics discussed between the two, Loftus discussed taking ‘2 russian language lessons a week’ specifically with an ‘asylum and artillery focus,’” the FBI discovered. “Grisha provided Loftus in-depth instructions on how to report to Russian authorities and the necessary logistics Loftus should know as a foreigner attempting to join the Russian military. This included a list of items to bring in preparation for entering Russia and volunteering with the Russian military.”
Loftus is not the first defendant from the Jan. 6 riot to seek to flee the country; the FBI has also sought assistance in capturing Evan Neumann, who is suspected to be living in Belarus.
James del Carmen for TROIB News
