In the Spotlight
Nick R. Hamilton
December 2, 2023
From Slay News
A mother and son have been sentenced to home incarceration for their roles in helping steal then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s (D-CA) laptop from the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021.
Maryann Mooney-Rondon, of upstate New York, and her son Rafael Rondon were reprimanded by U.S. District Judge Jia Cobb for their “juvenile” actions.
They both spent about half an hour inside the Capitol.
Neither was accused of any violence.
At one point, they entered a conference room where they helped an unidentified man steal Pelosi’s laptop.
They also stole a pair of respiratory devices meant for lawmakers and then left the Capitol.
Mooney-Rondon was convicted of obstruction of an official proceeding and aiding and abetting the theft of government property following a bench trial in March.
Her son pled guilty to obstruction of an official proceeding last December.
The judge sentenced Maryann Mooney-Rondon to 12 months of home incarceration.
Rafael Rondon was sentenced to 18 months of home incarceration.
Both were sentenced to five years’ probation.
Judge Cobb described the punishment as “jail but at home.”
In addition, Maryann Rondon must pay $3,657.51 in restitution, a fine of $7,500, and perform 350 hours of community service.
Her son was ordered to pay $2,000 in restitution and perform 350 hours of community service.
Democrat President Joe Biden’s Department of Justice wanted more than 51 months in prison – more than 4 years – for Rafael Rondon.
The DOJ also sought 46 months for Maryann Moony-Rondon.
However, the judge resisted these steep punishments, distinguishing between their “juvenile” conduct and more dramatic crimes like espionage or theft of government secrets.
The judge did not find their conduct reflected any “master plot,” a reporter who was present said.
While acknowledging their crimes were not particularly serious, the judge insisted she was letting them off easy.
“I just think that they were acting very stupidly,” Cobb said. “No offense.”
Moony-Rondon and Rondon have both apologized.
They said they suffered a lapse in judgment.
“I was the adult in the room, and I failed,” Mooney-Rondon said.
“I have brought embarrassment to my family.”
“If we had to do it all over, we would have just stayed home and watched from the safety of our living room,” she continued.
More than 1,000 people have been charged in the DOJ’s anti-Trump probe.
Some have been accused of assaulting police, but most of the defendants are not accused of any violence.
READ MORE: Hidden Camera Catches Pelosi’s Daughter Admitting Jan 6 Was a Hoax
