9th Michigan Man Charged In Capitol Breach Case

DETROIT — A Brownstown man on Thursday became the ninth person from Michigan to be charged in the Jan. 6 riots at the U.S. Capitol.

Anthony Michael Puma, 47, was arrested Thursday and charged with knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority, knowingly engaging in disorderly or disruptive conduct in or within such proximity to, any restricted building or grounds, obstruction of justice and violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds.

Federal authorities said in a charging document that they became aware of Puma's alleged actions on Jan. 6 through an online tip. The person who reported Puma as being involved in the Jan. 6 riots said they were Facebook friends with him and said he'd livestreamed his activities on the social media site.

Photos posted to Puma's Facebook page showed him inside the Capitol, according to federal documents. Posts made to Puma's Facebook page ahead of the riot included one previewing the riot.

"When we are all there in the capital and he is givin (sic) his second term the people will see. Then you never know we might have to start killing some commie bastards. #stopthesteal," Puma wrote, according to federal files.

Puma is the ninth person from Michigan charged in connection with the Jan. 6 riots.

Karl Dresch, 40, of Calumet, was charged in January, the first Michiganders to face formal charges stemming from the riot.

Michael Foy, 30, of Wixom, was accused of carrying a hockey stick in the U.S. Capitol and swinging it at people during the riot shortly after.

James Allen Mels, 56, of Shelby Township, was the third person from Michigan charged.

Two men from Macomb County — 43-year-old Daniel Herendeen and 39-year-old Robert Schornak — as well as 45-year-old Anthony Williams of Southgate, have been charged for various roles in the riot, the Metro Times reported.

Jeramiah Caplinger, 25, of Taylor, was charged in April. On May 10, Jeremy Ryan Sorvisto was arrested.