Man sentenced to two years in prison for assault of a federal officer and destruction of government property

ATLANTA – Richard Tyler Hunsinger has been sentenced for his role in an attack on the Atlanta Field Office of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, involving improvised explosive devices, during a protest in the summer of 2020.

“The U.S. Attorney’s Office will always defend citizens’ rights to peacefully protest,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan.  “But destruction of government property and throwing Molotov cocktails in buildings is unacceptable. Rather than catalyzing constructive dialogue, such dangerous actions foment violence, tear at the fabric of our community, and endanger lives. Prosecution and prison are the end result of engaging in this unlawful conduct.”

“The increase in assaults on federal law enforcement officers—and law enforcement in general and their property—is troubling and will not be tolerated,” said Keri Farley, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “Hopefully this sentencing sends the message that the FBI will continue to work with our partners to hold violent protesters accountable for their actions that damage our communities.”

“Stopping violent criminals, like Hunsinger, who target law enforcement officers is one of the most important things we can do to protect our communities,” said Special Agent in Charge Katrina W. Berger, who oversees Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) operations in Georgia and Alabama. “We are thankful for the hard work done in this case and hope that this sentence serves as a warning to anyone else thinking of committing such heinous acts.”

According to U.S. Attorney Buchanan, the charges and other information presented in court: On July 23, 2020, Richard Tyler Hunsinger promoted a protest entitled, “Rally Against Fascism.” The event was to occur at the Department of Homeland Security Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Field Office located in Atlanta, Georgia (the “DHS Building”).

On July 25, 2020, at approximately 11:30 P.M., a crowd of protesters gathered at the DHS building.  Hunsinger and others, wearing dark clothing, gloves, and face coverings, breached the fences of the building and began vandalizing the structure.  Hunsinger smashed at least four windows of the front entry of the DHS building using a hammer.  He later lit and threw a Molotov Cocktail into the facility.  At the same time, other individuals used rocks, cinder blocks, fireworks, and other materials to cause extensive damage to the building. 

Law enforcement later recovered a broken bottle used to make a Molotov Cocktail which contained Hunsinger’s DNA on it, and an additional Molotov Cocktail and a modified firework covered in nails from inside the facility.  Damage to the building and clean-up costs totaled more than $78,000.00.

Richard Tyler Hunsinger, 29, of Fairfax, Virginia, who was a resident of Atlanta, Georgia at the time of the offense, was sentenced to two years, eight months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release, including eight months of home confinement.  Hunsinger will also be required to pay restitution in an amount to be determined by the Court at a later date.  Hunsinger was convicted on October 25, 2022, after he pleaded guilty to the offenses of assault on a federal officer in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 111(a)(1) and (b), and destruction of government property in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1361.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in conjunction with the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Federal Protective Service.

For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016.  The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.