A man with a history of threatening violence and involvement in the 2021 U.S. Capitol riot has been arrested again after allegedly violating the terms of his supervised release. Federal authorities say he fled supervision and was later tracked down by U.S. marshals in Virginia.
Man Arrested Again After Violating Supervised Release
Jonathan Munafo was arrested Tuesday by U.S. marshals near Richmond, Virginia, after authorities said he absconded from supervision in the Northern District of New York.
Court records show his probation officer filed a petition alleging that Munafo violated the conditions of his supervised release. As a result, federal agents moved quickly to locate and detain him.
He is now expected to appear in court for a preliminary hearing on Monday.
Case Overview
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Suspect | Jonathan Munafo |
| Arrest Location | Near Richmond, Virginia |
| Allegation | Violation of supervised release |
| Previous Convictions | Threatening communication, assault on officer |
| Notable Incident | Participation in Jan. 6 Capitol riot |
| Next Court Hearing | Preliminary hearing scheduled Monday |
Threatening Call to 911 Dispatcher
One of Munafo’s earlier criminal cases involved a threatening phone call to a 911 dispatcher in Calhoun County, Michigan on Jan. 5, 2021.
According to a federal indictment, he called the emergency line from North Carolina and allegedly began verbally harassing the dispatcher. When she asked him to stop, prosecutors say he escalated the threats.
During the call, he reportedly demanded that a police officer be placed on the line and threatened the dispatcher and her family.
Investigators said he made several violent threats, including statements about harming the dispatcher.
In May 2022, Munafo pleaded guilty to making an interstate threatening communication. He was later sentenced to:
- Two years in prison
- Three years of supervised release
Involvement in the U.S. Capitol Riot
The day after the threatening phone call, Munafo traveled to Washington, D.C., where he joined the crowd that gathered outside the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.
The protest eventually turned into a violent attack on the Capitol building as rioters attempted to disrupt the certification of the presidential election.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Munafo assaulted a Metropolitan Police Department officer during the riot.
Authorities say that around 3:20 p.m., he:
- Punched the officer twice
- Attempted to take the officer’s riot shield
- Successfully pulled the shield away before disappearing into the crowd
Prosecutors said the second punch caused the officer’s head to snap backward, leaving the officer temporarily vulnerable to further attacks.
Arrest and Sentencing for Capitol Riot
Munafo was later arrested in Orlando, Florida, on April 26, 2021.
He eventually pleaded guilty in 2023 to two felony charges:
- Assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers
- Civil disorder
In September 2023, he was sentenced to nearly three years in prison followed by three years of supervised release.
However, Munafo was later pardoned along with more than 1,500 other defendants connected to the Jan. 6 riot when President Donald Trump issued pardons at the start of his second term.
Problems While in Custody
Court documents say Munafo continued to cause issues even while in custody.
While held in a New York jail related to his Michigan case, records allege he:
- Flooded his jail cell
- Broke a sprinkler device
- Faked a medical emergency to attract attention
Despite those incidents, he was eventually released and placed back on supervised release.
Alleged Flight to Virginia
Authorities now say Munafo violated the terms of his supervision by fleeing the Northern District of New York.
After investigators determined he had disappeared, a warrant was issued for his arrest.
U.S. marshals located him in the Richmond, Virginia area, where he was taken into custody this week.
Next Steps in the Case
Munafo will appear in court for a preliminary hearing, where a judge will determine the next steps regarding the alleged violation of his supervised release.
If the court finds that he violated the terms of his supervision, he could face additional time in federal custody.
