- The feds say an alleged Capitol rioter should be re-arrested after violating his release conditions.
- A judge had ordered Thomas Robertson not to have any weapons pending trial.
- Prosecutors say he bought 34 guns, and had a partly built pipe bomb at his house.
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Federal prosecutors say an ex-cop and Capitol riot suspect violated his pre-trial release conditions by buying 34 guns, and possessing a loaded M4 carbine and partially assembled pipe bomb at his home, according to court documents.
Thomas Robertson, ex-officer of the Rocky Mount Police Department in Virginia, is one of the 545 people that have been arrested and charged in connection to the January 6 insurrection so far. The Washington Post was first to report the latest court filing.
Robertson, who faces four federal charges, was released from jail in January. A judge agreed to release him pending trial, but one of the conditions was that he "refrain from possessing a firearm, destructive device, or other dangerous weapon," court documents said.
But just four days after Robertson's release, authorities discovered eight firearms, including a Hawken Rifle and Smith and Wesson, at his Virginia residence, according to a motion to revoke Robertson's release order.
Magistrate Judge G. Michael Harvey warned Robertson about his conditions during a court appearance.
The FBI obtained a search warrant to search Robertson's Yahoo email account, Venmo account, and Gunbroker.com account, and found a number of transaction records and messages about buying guns, according to court records.
The FBI also searched Robertson's home and "not only found evidence that Robertson had amassed an arsenal of 34 firearms through a local [Federal Firearms License] in Roanoke, but agents also found a loaded M4 rifle, ammunition, and a partially assembled pipe bomb in Robertson's home."
The FBI interviewed the owner of Tactical Operations, who identified Robertson as the buyer of the firearms. The owner told the FBI that Robertson had mentioned he couldn't have the weapons due to his release conditions, but that Robertson had been in his store handling the guns just one week earlier. The owner said the guns were still waiting for pickup.
Prosecutors argued Robertson violated his release conditions and should be put back in jail ahead of his trial, adding that his actions "put the public at risk."