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Four more local suspects charged in U.S. Capitol riot

Federal authorities in Buffalo arrested four people Wednesday who are accused of participating in the Jan. 6 unlawful entry into the U.S. Capitol Building.

Brought into custody were William Michael Sywak, 45, of Hamburg, and his son William Jason Sywak, 27, of Arcade; Traci Sunstrum, 44, of Amherst; and John Juran, 51, of Williamsville.

Sunstrum's charges include entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds; disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds; disorderly conduct in a Capitol building; and parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building.

Juran faces two counts of knowingly entering or remaining in a restricted building or grounds and violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds.

The father and son are both charged with knowingly entering any restricted building or grounds; impeding or disrupting the orderly conduct of government business; disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds; and parading on Capitol grounds.

Authorities said among the evidence against them is data subpoened from Google on where their cell phones were during the time of the riot, pictures in full color from suveillance cameras of what are alleged to be the suspects inside the Capitol and anonymous phone tips to police.

All offenses are misdemeanors. So far, the most serious charges against any of them would lead to a one-year federal jail term, although all of the charges could be stacked into several years behind bars.

Following their arraignments before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael Roemer Wednesday afternoon, all four individuals were released and are scheduled to appear virtually before a Washington, DC judge May 27. They face release conditions like turning in weapons, turning in passports and staying out of the Washington area unless for court appearances.

While the cases were handled by one assigned lawyer, MaryBeth Covert from the Federal Public Defenders Office, eventually all will be assigned individual lawyers. The suspects join around 500 people already charged, with perhaps that same number to eventually join them.

Wednesday's arrests follow the arrest one day before of Daniel Warmus, an Alden man accused of participating in the unlawful entry into the Capitol. Investigators say they were tipped off after Warmus allegedly boasted of his participation during a local dental appointment.

Mike Desmond is one of Western New York’s most experienced reporters, having spent nearly a half-century covering the region for newspapers, television stations and public radio. He has been with WBFO and its predecessor, WNED-AM, since 1988. As a reporter for WBFO, he has covered literally thousands of stories involving education, science, business, the environment and many other issues. Mike has been a long-time theater reviewer for a variety of publications and was formerly a part-time reporter for The New York Times.
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