New Charges For NJ 'Oath Keeper' For Jan. 6 Capitol Riot

NORTH JERSEY — A man previously from Hackettstown and said to have been photographed as a bodyguard to former President Donald Trump’s political advisor Roger Stone during the Jan. 6 Capitol riots, faces new charges for his participation.

Roberto Minuta, 36, a tattoo artist who had a business in Newburgh, N.Y. and lived in Hackettstown, but is listed on the indictment as a Prosper, Texas resident, was recently charged at the end of May in a fourth superseding indictment for conspiracy, obstruction and entering a restricted building or grounds.

He is reportedly a lifetime member of the Oath Keepers group.

In three of the four-count allegations against Minuta and 15 others, it’s claimed the group started planning around the November 2020 Election to “stop, delay and hinder the Certification of the Electoral College vote” on Jan. 6; and were training in “paramilitary combat tactics.” As part of it, the indictment states Minuta and the others started communicating in a Signal group to discuss a “DC OP” for Jan. 6, then he checked into a Hilton hotel in Virginia the night before the riot, before reserving another three rooms at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, D.C.

On Jan. 6, Minuta was photographed, equipped with battle gear and an ear piece, plus carried bear spray, while making phone calls and riding with others in golf carts during the chaos that afternoon, the indictment also reads.

Minuta has also been accused of being one of three to abandon the golf cart at around 2:30 p.m. on the day of the riots, then head to the Capitol on foot. When they arrived there, they were said to have “aggressively berated and taunted law enforcement officers in riot gear guarding the perimeter of the Capitol building, near the east side of the building,” before entering at 3:15 p.m.

Minuta was caught on camera yelling to “Get these cops out,” followed with some profanity-laced statements, the indictment also read.

As part of their activities “obstruction of an official proceeding and aiding and abetting,” he and 15 others were charged with in the second count.

His third charge stemmed from the fourth count, along with the same 15 others, for entering a restricted building and grounds, while both former Vice President Mike Pence and current Vice President Kamala Harris were apparently also on the grounds of the Capitol.

The FBI first arrested and charged Minuta on March 6.

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Russ Crespolini contributed reporting to this story.

Questions or comments about this story? Have a news tip? Contact me at jennifer.miller@patch.com.