Syracuse, N.Y. — A U.S. Postal Service worker who lived in the Syracuse area was sentenced in federal court Wednesday for storming the U.S. Capitol building on Jan. 6, 2021 with rioters attempting to overturn the 2020 election.
Security footage showed Frank Bratjan Jr. breaching the Capitol building through a broken window as rioters clashed with police, according to his plea agreement in federal court.
Bratjan was sentenced to six months probation with a $1,500 fine for parading, demonstrating or picketing in a capitol building.
He was in the Capitol Rotunda as people tried to make their way to Sen. Mitch McConnell’s office, the court papers said. He heard others yell for Nancy Pelosi and other congress members in an attempt to find them, prosecutors said.
After Bratjan left about half an hour later, he posted on Instagram saying he approached the Capitol with an “army of American patriots,” according to court documents. He claimed he was pepper sprayed and tear gassed.
After the rioting, five people died either on Jan. 6 or in the following days. Many people, including more than 130 police officers, were injured and congressional offices and chambers were ransacked.
This is an Instagram post by Frank J. Bratjan Jr., formerly of the Syracuse area, submitted by prosecutors in federal court who charged him with being inside the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. (Federal court documents)
Related: 7 Central NYers accused of storming U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6: Who are they? What did they do?
Bratjan was living with his father in the Syracuse area leading up to the capitol riots, according to court documents. He was listed as a graduate from Paul V. Moore High School in 2012.
As investigations into the Jan. 6 attacks began, Bratjan moved to Minnesota to live with his mother, one tipster told the FBI in January 2022, court papers said. FBI later confirmed he worked for the U.S. Postal Service in Eagan in Dakota County.
Bratjan was charged in June with help from tips sent to the FBI, surveillance footage inside the Capitol building and videos taken by rioters during the attacks, court papers said.
Frank J. Bratjan Jr., formerly of the Syracuse area, shown in several photos including one inside the U.S. Capitol during the Jan. 6 insurrection in evidence submitted by prosecutors in federal court. (Federal court documents)
Staff writer Fernando Alba covers breaking news, crime and public safety. Have a tip, story idea, question or comment? Reach him at 315-690-6950, at falba@syracuse.com, or on Twitter at @byfernandoalba.