Newburgh Tattoo Parlor Owner Convicted Of Seditious Conspiracy

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Four members of the Oath Keepers, one of whom has Hudson Valley ties, were found guilty of seditious conspiracy related to the breach of the United States Capitol.

U.S. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland said Monday that Roberto Minuta, 38, formerly of Newburgh, now living in Prosper, Texas; Joseph Hackett, 52, of Sarasota, Florida; David Moerschel, 45, of Punta Gorda, Florida, and Edward Vallejo, 64, of Phoenix, Arizona, were found guilty of conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, obstruction of an official proceeding and conspiracy to prevent members of congress from discharging their official duties, in addition to seditious conspiracy.

Hackett was also found guilty of destruction of evidence.

FBI Director Christopher Wray said the verdict was an important step in the continued efforts to hold criminally accountable those involved in the breach of the Capitol.

“We will continue to investigate those who sought to undermine the workings of American democracy,” he said, “and we will work closely with federal prosecutors to ensure justice is served.

Seditious conspiracy, conspiracy to obstruct Congress, obstruction of Congress, and destruction of evidence all carry a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. All charges carry potential financial penalties.

Sentencing will be scheduled at a later date.

According to prosecutors, the day the Electoral College vote for president and vice president was going to be certified by Congress, Minuta and the other Oath Keepers breached the Capitol grounds and then the building itself.

He and the others were accused of forcing their ways past law enforcement personnel who were trying to guard the Rotunda.

Minuta, who owned a Newburgh tattoo parlor, changed his residence to Texas.

He became known in the Hudson Valley during the spring of 2020 for defying the executive order that closed nonessential businesses in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.

At the time, Minuta told Patch that he was taking “a stand against a tyrannical governor who has no respect for lives.”