The son of a New York City judge who stormed the US Capitol, who was dressed as a hairy caveman, was sentenced to eight months in jail on Friday.
On Jan. 6, 2021, US District Judge James Boasberg warned Aaron Mostofsky that he was on the front lines of the mob's onslaught. Mostofsky was also sentenced to one year of supervised release, 200 hours of community service, and $2,000 in reparations by Boasberg.
NYC Judge's Son Who Stormed Capitol Gets Prison
Mostofsky had pleaded with the judge for leniency, saying he was embarrassed by his part in the turmoil of that day. Federal sentencing guidelines recommended a jail term of 10 to 16 months in his instance. Prosecutors suggested a 15-month jail sentence followed by three years of supervised release.
According to prosecutors, Mostofsky was one of the first rioters to penetrate the restricted area surrounding the Capitol and one of the first to storm the building itself, through the Senate Wing doors. According to authorities, he pushed against a police barricade that officers were attempting to move and took a Capitol Police bulletproof jacket and riot shield, WGN9 reported.
Mostofsky was seen and videotaped inside the Capitol during the attacks, wearing the fur outfit and bulletproof vest that prosecutors claim he stole from Capitol Police.
He also offered The New York Post a video interview inside the building, in which he stated, "I'm here to convey my viewpoint as a free American that this election was stolen." Mostofsky, the son of Brooklyn judge Shlomo Mostofsky, a prominent figure in New York's Orthodox Jewish society, prosecutors claimed, played a key part in the attack.
They referred to photographs of him wielding a police riot shield as he and rioters fought a line of cops trying to keep the group out of the Capitol. Judge James Boasberg echoed those comments when he issued his decision on Friday. Prosecutors claim that Mostofsky took a bus from New York to Washington and immediately joined demonstrators in overpowering the police roadblock and breaking into the Capitol.
More Than 280 People Also Plead Guilty With Capitol Riot Crimes
Prosecutors claim he took an officer's bulletproof jacket for $1,905 and a riot shield worth $265 along the way. According to authorities, before the rally, Mostofsky messaged another demonstrator, stating he could locate him by looking for 'a caveman,' and added, 'Even a caveman knows it was stolen,' alluding to the contentious 2020 Presidential Election results.
After the photo went viral, Mostofsky told a buddy that his sudden popularity was terrible since "now people genuinely know who I am."
Mostofsky's odd attire made him stand out among the thousands of protestors, with one photo showing the Brooklyn resident seated on a bench outside the Senate chamber with a stick and a riot shield. During the commotion, Mostofsky claimed to have discovered police gear on the floor, as per Daily Mail.
Over 780 people have been charged with offenses relating to the Capitol incident by federal authorities. Over 280 individuals have pled guilty, the majority of them to misdemeanors. More than 160 people have been punished, with more than 60 of them receiving jail sentences ranging from 14 days to five years and three months, according to New York Daily News.
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