‘ENTITLED’ TO 3.5 YRS. Judge hits pot-smoking L.I. man with hard time for Jan. 6
A Long Island disc jockey who filmed himself smoking weed inside the U.S. Capitol during the Jan. 6 seige was sentenced Thursday to three years and five months in prison — chastised by a judge for his “bloody entitled” attitude.
“This is history! We took the Capitol,” Greg Rubenacker declared with a blue vape pen hanging out of his mouth in cell phone footage played at his sentencing in U.S. District Court in Washington.
The 26-year-old Farmingdale man struck a more contrite tone ahead of Chief Judge Beryl Howell’s sentencing decision.
“I just want to say sorry to you guys for having to go through all the cases,” Rubenacker said. “I want to say sorry to the United States of America ... I wish I hadn’t believed the lies.”
Rubenacker, who pleaded guilty to all 10 counts that he faced, was among a horde of supporters of then-President Donald Trump who tried to disrupt the certification of President Biden’s election victory. The riot at the U.S. Capitol ultimately led to the deaths of five people, including a police officer.
Rubenacker was in the crowd that Capitol Police Officer Eugene Goodman diverted from coming face-to-face with former Vice President Mike Pence, Utah GOP Sen. Mitt Romney and other lawmakers. Goodman was later awarded the congressional gold medal for his quick thinking.
Howell said Rubenacker’s case stood out because he was part of the vanguard that forced its way through the door to the Senate wing within 60 seconds of the initial breach.
“I want to emphasize that chasing Officer Goodman up the stairs was antagonistic conduct, it was threatening conduct, it was scary conduct,” said Howell.
“[Rubenacker] filmed himself walking through the hallways of the Capitol saying things like, ‘Holy shit. This is history. We took the Capitol,’ clearly exhilarated by the fact that all the people in this crowd were able to overwhelm the police.”
Rubenacker exited the building but would illegally reenter a second time 20 minutes later through the Rotunda doors.
He was “excited to start smoking marijuana and pumping on a vapor. He brazenly filmed himself doing that and posted it on social media with the caption: ‘Smoke out the Capitol, baby! Smells like freedom in here,’ ” said Howell.
“To me, that strikes me as a person feeling so bloody entitled with his right to be there inside the Capitol building and was so exhilarated and excited about this ability to overwhelm the police, he celebrated by smoking marijuana.”
An apologetic Rubenacker, who told the court he’s a passionate music maker, said he’s reformed as a result of therapy over the past 12 months.
“My actions on Jan. 6 don’t match who I am, and I am truly sorry,” he said.
More than 800 people have been arrested in nearly all 50 states for participating in the insurrection, including more than 250 people authorities say assaulted or impeded law enforcement.