A former government official has been charged with making multiple false statements implicating his former colleagues in the Jan. 6 Capitol rally. court documents.
Miguel Zapata, a former government official, was arrested Thursday and charged with abusing the FBI's anonymous tip website.
Special Agent Cole Ashcraft, who is assigned to the FBI's Washington Field Office Cyber Task Force, indicated that the false statements were made between February and April 2021 through the FBI's online tip portal.
The agency began scrutinizing these tips after noticing similarities in the wording and dates they were submitted. Investigations linked the entries to IP addresses from a service that provides anonymous web access, eventually tracing them to Zapata.
Zapata allegedly made false claims suggesting that several government employees and contractors, some of whom are affiliated with an unnamed intelligence agency, were involved in or supported the events of January 6.
Zapata's tips include allegations that these individuals were physically present in the Capitol during the protest, participated in violent actions or shared classified information with protesters to help them overthrow the U.S. government.
He accused former colleagues of ties to groups such as the Oath Keepers and the Proud Boys.
The FBI's investigation found that all of the individuals mentioned by Zapata were demonstrably elsewhere during the events of January 6, primarily at work in Virginia, debunking Zapata's claims.
The detailed investigation included interviews with the accused individuals and examination of their electronic footprints, which revealed no participation or presence at the Capitol during the riot.
Here are the excerpts from the seven false tips that Zapata submitted to the FBI between February and April 2021, according to the affidavit:
1. February 10, 2021 – Victim 1 and victim 2
On February 10, 2021, ZAPATA submitted the following tip to the FBI regarding Victim 1:
[Victim 1] . . . was actively involved in efforts to overthrow the United States government. [He/she] took an active part in the riot on January 6, 2021, which led to the deaths of six people.
Additional information: is married […] conspiracy theories and actively takes revenge on colleagues who do not share this [his/her] Political positions.
What was the exact crime that took place? Involvement in the Capitol riot and insurrection.
When did the crime/incident occur? January 6, 2021
Where did the crime/incident take place? Washington, DC
[Victim 2] . . . was actively involved in efforts to overthrow the United States government.
[He/she] took an active part in the riot and uprising on January 6, 2021, which led to the deaths of six people.
Additional information: is married […] conspiracy theories and joins colleagues who share similar views.
What was the exact crime that occurred?: Actively participated in the Capitol riot and insurrection.
When did the crime/incident occur? January 6, 2021
Where did the crime/incident take place? Washington, DC
2. February 16, 2021 – Victim 3 and victim 5
Victim 3 On February 16, 2021, ZAPATA submitted the following tip about Victim 3 to the FBI:
[Victim 3] attended the riot and insurrection in the US capital and was present at the storming of the capital.
What was the exact crime that took place?: Participated in the uprising in the US capital
When did the crime/incident occur? January 6, 2021
Where did the crime/incident take place? US Capitol
How is contact known: Colleague
[Victim 5] attended the riot and insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. [He/she] played an active role in leading the riot and storming the U.S. Capitol [sic] to hunt down and execute politicians.
Additional information: In addition to attending the riot and insurrection at the American Captiol,[sic] [he/she] embraces an extremist ideology in the workplace and has bragged about it [his/her] collaboration with the Boogaloo Bois, ProudBoys and Oath Keepers. While I was working as a contractor at [an intelligence agency], [he/she] has accessed secret Agency resources to foment terror and incite violence by sharing this information with other conspiracy-theory-based personalities […] [He/she] has often talked about “sharing classified information with these groups and individuals as a [sic] [his/her] duty to ensure that the United States Constitution is protected.”
What was the exact crime that occurred?: [Victim 5] attended the riot and insurrection at the U.S. Capitol
When did the crime/incident occur? January 6, 2021
Where did the crime/incident take place? US Capitol
How is contact known: Colleague
3. February 17, 2021 – Victim 6 On February 17, 2021, ZAPATA submitted the following tip about Victim 6 to the FBI:
[Victim 6] attended the Capitol riot. [He/she] was directly involved in coordinating the riot that led to this [sic] to the death of 6 people. Extra information: […] [he/she] applications [his/her] permission to continue supporting [an intelligence agency] and gains access to classified information.
What was the exact crime that occurred?: [Victim 6] attended the Capitol riot.
When did the crime/incident occur? January 6, 2021
Where did the crime/incident take place? Washington DC
How is contact known: Colleague
4. April 11, 2021 – Victim 7 and Victim 8 i. Victim 7 On April 11, 2021, ZAPATA submitted the following tip to the FBI about Victim 7:
[Victim 7] attended the Capitol riot that led to that [sic] to the death of several people and the injury of several police officers. [He/she] also provided support to domestic terrorist groups such as the OathKeepers, Proud Boys and Boogaloos. [He/she] used [his/her] position of trust in the intelligence community to share classified information with these groups in an effort to help them overthrow the government. [He/she] currently works for [an intelligence agency][…] and is actively involved in leadership meetings that deliver this [him/her] higher than normally expected access to classified information. [His/her] actions on January 6 lead directly [sic] and actively contributed to the successful breach of the Capitol Police barricades through its encrypted communications techniques used that day.
What was the exact crime that occurred?: Attended and supported the January 6 insurrection riot
When did the crime/incident occur? January 6, 2021
Where did the crime/incident take place? Washington DC, Capitol
How is contact known: Colleague
[Victim 8] provided material support and coordination [his/her] position of trust with access to classified information for domestic terrorist groups such as the Proud Boys, Oathkeepers and Boogaloos. […] [he/she] shared classified information with terrorist groups in the hope that this information would lead to the overthrow of the US government. [His/her] The position of trust within the intelligence community led these groups to breach police barricades by encouraging a flanking maneuver on the barricade, resulting in the crossing of police lines on January 6, 2021. […] [he/she] has retained access to classified data, senior executive service employees and executives with connections [an intelligence agency] and grew a social network of secret personnel [he/she] has exploited to support the uprising. For over a decade [he/she] has quietly engineered a “change of government” that will lead to the downfall of the US government and other institutions [his/her] old position of trust and access.
What was the exact crime that occurred?: January 6th insurrection at the Capitol
When did the crime/incident occur? January 6, 2021
Where did the crime/incident take place? Capitol, Washington DC
How is contact known: Colleague
Zapata is being charged 18 USC § 1001(a)(2) and (3)laws that criminalize knowingly making false statements in matters within the jurisdiction of the federal government.
According to to abc News: Zapata “has not yet entered a plea and has been released on bail following a hearing before a federal magistrate judge in Washington, DC”
