Jacket With Name, Phone Number Led Feds Right To Capitol Rioter From New Jersey: DOJ

A Toms River man wearing a jacket with his business's name and phone number on the front of it to the Jan. 6, 2021 U.S. Capitol insurrection has been arrested more than three years later.

Robert Coppotelli of Toms River, NJ, outside of the U.S. Capitol building on Jan. 6, 2021.
Photo Credit: *US Justice Department*

Robert Coppotelli of Toms River, NJ, walking up the northwest staircase of the U.S. Capitol building on Jan. 6, 2021.
Photo Credit: *U.S. Department of Justice*

Robert Coppotelli of Toms River, NJ, entering the U.S. Capitol building on Jan. 6, 2021.
Photo Credit: *U.S. Department of Justice*

Robert Coppotelli of Toms River, NJ, in the crypt of the U.S. Capitol building on Jan. 6, 2021.
Photo Credit: *U.S. Department of Justice*

Robert Coppotelli of Toms River, NJ, near the Memorial Door staircase in the U.S. Capitol building on Jan. 6, 2021.
Photo Credit: *U.S. Department of Justice*

Robert Coppotelli of Toms River, NJ, walking in a hallway inside the U.S. Capitol building on Jan. 6, 2021.
Photo Credit: *U.S. Department of Justice*

Robert Coppotelli of Toms River, NJ, near the Senate wing door in the U.S. Capitol building on Jan. 6, 2021.
Photo Credit: *U.S. Department of Justice*

Robert Coppotelli of Toms River, NJ, exiting the U.S. Capitol building through a broken window on Jan. 6, 2021.
Photo Credit: *U.S. Department of Justice*

Chris Spiker

02/22/2024 11:00 a.m.

Robert Coppotelli was charged with four misdemeanor counts of illegally entering the Capitol and disrupting the joint session of Congress to count the electoral college votes in the 2020 Presidential election. The accusations against Coppotelli were outlined in a court document filed on Friday, Feb. 16.

Prosecutors with the U.S. Department of Justice said an anonymous tip in July 2021 identified Coppotelli in photographs inside the Capitol building. The photos show him wearing a jacket with the logo for “Coppotelli Heavy Equipment Sales & Services, Inc.” and the company's phone number "732-[redacted]-6050."

Coppotelli was also wearing a red hooded sweatshirt under his company's jacket, a black winter hat, and a surgical mask. Security camera footage showed him walking up the northwest staircase of the Capitol at 2:19 p.m., six minutes after the building was first breached.

Investigators said Coppotelli entered the Capitol building at 2:24 p.m. through the Senate wing door. As he walked through a door, a loud alarm went off and glass shattered in the entryway.

Coppotelli was then seen entering the Capitol's crypt at the center of the first floor. He left the crypt briefly before going back into it and walking toward the Senate wing door where he first entered the building.

Capitol police blocked the door to prevent more angry supporters of former President Donald Trump from entering. Coppotelli left the building by crawling through a nearby broken window at 2:36 p.m.

The DOJ tracked down Coppotelli through his business, which is registered with the U.S. Department of Transportation at his home address.

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