An Orange County man who reportedly boasted about being on a plane “loaded with fellow patriots” before allegedly taking photos of himself in the midst of the breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021 was arrested this week in Huntington Beach, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office.
Vincent Ardolino was taken into custody on Thursday, Dec. 1 in connection with a newly unsealed criminal complaint.
According to federal prosecutors, Ardolino on his way to Washington D.C. posted on Facebook, “Almost to DC to help stop the coup taking place. Turns out this plane is loaded with fellow patriots going to fight the political corruption that has infected our Government like the CCP virus.”
“CCP” has been used to refer to the Chinese Communist Party.
In a statement filed with the court, prosecutors said Ardolino was tied to the crowd accused of trespassing at the U.S. Capitol building through his Google and cell phone accounts, including a “selfie-style” photo of a man believed to be Ardolino wearing a “Make America Great Again” hat and appearing to stand in front of a group of officers.
The complaint, citing closed circuit video footage, says Ardolino was in the crowd that entered the Capitol. After initially denying he was in the restricted building, Ardolino eventually admitted to being inside for about ten minutes, it states.
There was no indication in court filings that Ardolino is suspected of taking part in any violence or vandalism.
Court filings by prosecutors indicate that Ardolino is a Fountain Valley resident, though at least one of his social media accounts identifies him as living in Huntington Beach. He could not immediately be reached for comment.
Ardolino is charged with entering a restricted building or grounds, disorderly conduct and parading, demonstrating or picketing in a capitol building. He is scheduled to make his initial appearance by video before a magistrate judge in a federal courtroom in Washington D.C. on Dec. 8, according to court records.
More than 800 people nationwide have been arrested and charged in connection to the Jan. 6 insurrection, when thousands of pro-Trump supporters took part in an at-times violent but ultimately failed effort to stop Congress from certifying President Joe Biden’s electoral victory. That includes more than two-dozen defendants with ties to Orange County.
More than 275 defendants have already pleaded guilty nationwide, most essentially admitting to misdemeanor counts that amount to trespassing in the Capitol or adjacent restricted grounds.
