Boca Raton January 6th Insurrectionist Not In Custody

Richard Cook Was Convicted In 2024. Unclear Whether His Sentence Will Be Served…

BOCA RATON, FL (BocaNewsNow.com) (Copyright © 2025 MetroDesk Media, LLC) — A Boca Raton resident convicted of taking part in the January 6th insurrection may never end up serving time despite a federal prison sentence. Richard Cook, of Glouchester Street in East Boca, appears to be free Tuesday morning, according to records provided by the Federal Bureau of Prisions. It’s unclear if his case is affected by President Trump’s issuance of mass pardons and commutations for 1500 people who took part in the attack on the Capitol.

Cook, 38, was convicted in August of disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building, entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds, civil disorder, engaging in physical violence in a restricted building or grounds, impeding passage through the Capitol Grounds or building, and (committing an) act of physical violence in the Capitol Gournds or Buildings. He was sentenced to 18-months in federal prison and 36 months of supervised release.

But as of Tuesday morning, the Federal Bureau of Prisions shows an active record for Richard Cook but says he is not in custody. It was not immediately clear if he had ever reported to prison. The case does not show an appeal in process. The future of Cook’s sentence is also unclear following President Trump’s announcement.

Here is how the United States Department of Justice described Cook’s crimes, and sentence, in an official media advisory issued in August of 2024:

“Richard Cook, 38, of Boca Raton, Florida, was sentenced to 18 months in prison, 36 months of supervised release, and ordered to pay $2,000 in restitution by U. S. District Judge Reggie B. Walton.

A federal jury found Cook guilty on May 10, 2024, of civil disorder, a felony, and five misdemeanor offenses, including entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds, engaging in physical violence in a restricted building or grounds, impeding passage through the Capitol grounds or buildings, and act of physical violence in the Capitol grounds or buildings.

According to evidence presented during the trial, on Jan. 6, 2021, Cook joined a mob that relentlessly attacked police officers in one of the most violent areas of the Capitol riot – the Lower West Terrace Tunnel. Court documents say that Cook entered the Tunnel on two occasions to join a collective push against police officers as the rioters tried to gain access to the Capitol building. Cook initially entered the Tunnel at approximately 3:12 p.m. and immediately made his way into the mob of rioters who were coordinating pushes against police officers while yelling “HEAVE HO!” and “PUSH!” While Cook joined in collective pushes, one police officer screamed in pain as the weight of the rioters’ pushes pinned him between a shield and a door.

Cook was pushed out of the Tunnel but remained nearby on the Lower West Terrace, watching the continued attack. As the number of rioters in the Tunnel began to dwindle, Cook rushed back into the Tunnel. This time, Cook made it nearly to the front of the police line and pushed aggressively into the police line.

Despite the prolonged pushing by Cook and the rest of the mob, officers were able to temporarily gain control of the Tunnel and push rioters, Cook included, out. Cook remained near the Tunnel, watching as rioters engaged in violent acts against police officers guarding the Tunnel entrance, including when rioters dragged a Metropolitan Police Department officer out of the Tunnel and brutally injured the officer. Cook then remained near the mouth of the Tunnel for over an hour as he watched and cheered on the continued attack against officers.”