Jan. 6 Capitol Breach Participant Sentenced In Gun Silencer Case

FALLS CHURCH, VA — A Northern Virginia man who was convicted in a Jan. 6 Capitol breach case was sentenced Thursday in a separate gun silencer case.

Hatchet Speed, 41, of Falls Church, who the AP reported is a Navy veteran, was sentenced to three years in prison in Virginia federal court related to unlawful possession of unregistered silencers. According to prosecutors, Speed began "panic buying" guns in early 2021 after participation in the Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol breach, which led him to anticipate civil war and speak about the need for political violence.

Speed reportedly bought at least 12 guns, spending over $40,000 on guns, accessories and ammunition. But per prosecutors, he also bought three silencers from a company in Georgia. The gun silencers were marketed as "solvent traps" to be bused in cleaning gun barrels and were not registered to Speed as required in the national registration system.

According to court documents, Speed talked with an undercover FBI employee about use of the "solvent traps" to further his antisemitic and anti-government beliefs. Speed reportedly discussed taking violent action and praised the approach of jihadists to "wipe out" the opposition, which referred to Jewish people.

Speed also discussed how he was using a "mock trial" to add people to his list of targets. Speed told the FBI employee the "solvent traps," which were gun silencers in reality, would be used in this effort.

In March, Speed was convicted in a separate case related to Jan. 6 charges in D.C. federal court. According to prosecutors, Speed had driven from his home to D.C. on Jan. 6, attended a "Stop the Steal" rally at the White House Ellipse and entered the Capitol about two minutes after the door had been breached.

Prosecutors say Speed entered the Capitol after learning then-Vice President Mike Pence validated certain ballots he considered "invalid" in the presidential election. Speed left the building because he believed Congress postponed the certification of electoral votes, according to his texts presented in court.

He was found guilty of obstruction of an official proceeding, entering and remaining in a restricted building, disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building, disorderly conduct in a Capitol building, and parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a Capitol building. He faces up to 20 years in prison when sentenced and potential financial penalties for the felony obstruction charge. Sentencing in D.C. federal court is scheduled for May 8.