NJ Man Charged In Capitol Riot After Grandmother's Gossip

MAYS LANDING, NJ — A South Jersey man has been charged with participating in the U.S. Capitol riot after a conversation between a woman and her grandchild was turned over to the FBI, according to court documents released this week.

After the attempted insurrection on Jan. 6, authorities said the mother of Robert Petrosh Jr., 51, told her friend that Petrosh was part of the group who broke into the Capitol building.

Authorities said her friend then repeated the story to her grandchild. After their conversation, her grandchild turned information about Petrosh over to the FBI.

The grandchild described Petrosh to the FBI and told authorities Petrosh was lying low following the riot.

Authorities were first tipped off on Jan. 10 that Petrosh may have been at the Capitol after an anonymous tipster claimed Petrosh was on the steps of the government building on Jan. 6, according to court documents.

An FBI Task Force Officer then identified Petrosh in a photo submitted in an unrelated tip and CCTV footage.

On Jan. 28th, the FBI said it found a photograph of a person resembling Petrosh inside the Capitol building. In the photo, he's wearing a gray-green cross-body bag, blue jeans and a black long-sleeve T-shirt with a white emblem on his chest, authorities said.

The FBI reviewed video footage that appears to depict Petrosh standing near the House wing door at approximately 3:20 p.m., authorities said. On March 24th, Petrosh was again positively identified.

Petrosh has been charged with knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority, disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds.

At lrast 23 people from New Jersey are among the growing list of those charged in connection with the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol. And the FBI is still continuing its manhunt by posting photos of individuals who unlawfully entered the Capitol building and assaulted federal officers.

The FBI says it's still seeking information that will assist in identifying anyone who was actively instigating violence in Washington, D.C. The FBI is accepting tips and digital media depicting rioting and violence in the Capitol building and surrounding area on Jan. 6.

"We have deployed our full investigative resources and are working closely with our federal, state, and local partners to aggressively pursue those involved in criminal activity during the events of January 6," the FBI said in a statement.

The FBI has posted videos and photos of more than 200 suspects it is seeking information about in connection with the riot. Those photos and videos can be seen on the FBI's Capitol Violence webpage.