Public January 6 profile · ready to claim
James McGrew
J6 detainee / witness · DC DOC
Documented editorial-use imageJames Burton McGrew is a Mississippi-born Marine veteran sentenced to prison for assaulting officers on January 6. FACT: James McGrew has Biloxi, Mississippi roots and a stretch living in Carlsbad, California before his arrest; he was taken into custody in the Glendale, Arizona area. (WXXV News 25; DOJ; 12 News) His family describes him on a public fundraiser as a third-generation Marine, "brought up to love and fear God," a father of one who helps care for his mother. (THEIR ACCOUNT: family GiveSendGo appeal, cited by The Daily Beast) FACT: His January 6 case was one of the serious ones. According to an FBI affidavit, he left a California sober-living home and crossed into Mexico while agents searched for him, before he was ultimately taken into custody. (FACT: The Daily Beast, citing an FBI search warrant affidavit) He pleaded guilty on May 13, 2022, to assaulting, resisting, or impeding officers, and on January 20, 2023, was sentenced to 78 months. (DOJ; American Gulag) We do not minimize the court record; it is stated plainly here. FACT: He did not fight the charge at trial; he pleaded guilty and accepted the sentence rather than take the case before a jury. For anyone searching his name and asking what he actually did: he admitted to assaulting law enforcement officers during the Capitol breach, and the eighty-plus-month sentence reflects that admitted conduct, not an allegation he contested. WHERE THINGS STAND: On January 20, 2025, two years to the day after his sentencing, President Trump granted clemency to January 6 defendants, and James was among those released. (American Gulag) He served hard time and walked out under a presidential clemency. What he builds from here is the part still being written. His family and supporters are welcome to add it. CASE RECORD Case No. 1:21-cr-398, U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. Arrested 05/28/2021 in the Glendale, Arizona area. Indicted 06/11/2021. Superseding indictment 10/29/2021. Pleaded guilty 05/13/2022. Sentenced 01/20/2023 to 78 months incarceration, 36 months supervised release, $5,000 fine, $2,000 restitution. Clemency granted 01/20/2025. This profile is unclaimed. If this is you, or your family, claiming it is free, forever.
The case file
On the record
- Case number
- 1:21-cr-398
- Court
- U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
- Disposition
- Arrested 5/28/21 and initial appearance held 6/1. Indicted 6/11/21. Arraignment held 6/24/21 where he pleaded not guilty to all counts. Superseding indictment filed 10/29/21. Pleaded guilty 5/13/22. Sentence 1/20/23 Sentenced to 78 months Incarceration, 36 months probation, Fine $5,000, Restitution $2,000, special assesment $100
- Arrested
- May 28, 2021
- Plea
- May 13, 2022
Charges
- Civil Disorder
- Obstruction of an Official Proceeding
- Assaulting, Resisting or Impeding Certain Officers
- Assaulting, Resisting or Impeding Certain Officers Using a Dangerous Weapon
- Entering and Remaining in a Restricted Building or Grounds with a Deadly or Dangerous Weapon
- Disorderly and Disruptive Conduct in a Restricted Building or Grounds with a Deadly or Dangerous Weapon
- Engaging in Physical Violence in a Restricted Building or Grounds with a Deadly or Dangerous Weapon
- Disorderly Conduct in a Capitol Building
- Act of Physical Violence in the Capitol Grounds or Buildings
- Parading, Demonstrating, or Picketing in a Capitol Building
Sentence
78 months incarceration, 36 months supervised release, $5,000 fine, $2,000 restitution
Press & news
- https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/pr/mississippi-man-sentenced-assaulting-law-enforcement-officers-during-jan-6-capitol-breach →
- https://americangulag.org/james-burton-mcgrew/ →
- https://www.newsweek.com/full-list-january-6-prisoners-released-2018097 →
- https://www.thedailybeast.com/qanon-loving-ex-marine-james-burton-mcgrew-accused-in-capitol-riot-fled-to-mexico-as-feds-closed-in/ →
- https://www.wxxv25.com/biloxi-man-sentenced-for-part-in-capitol-riots-on-jan-6-2021/ →
- https://www.12news.com/article/news/crime/us-asks-court-to-deny-arizona-mans-release-request-after-arrest-in-jan-6-insurrection/75-301389d8-f98a-4b2e-9ead-8e604c64c781 →
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Connection to United States v. Nichols
James McGrew appears in the record of United States v. Nichols through 16 shared documents on file below. The full case — timeline, people, documents — is public and free.
Walk the whole case →Evidence on file
16 documents on file
Ryan2 documents
Ryan Nichols' own paperwork — grievances, motions, letters, cell notes.
other · Mar 18, 2022
Conditions log — DC DOC Issues page 6, Feb 26 to Mar 18 (haircuts, 'insurrectionist', US Marshals)
Page 6: Officer Ugwe admits clippers delivered to C2A and other pods but not theirs; Capt Saunders writes 5 DRs about masks; Guy Reffitt gets clippers via court order, others denied; Sgt Franklin and Ms McCain refuse to add Ryan to haircut list until 3/11 when he is 'called an insurrectionist'; Major Marr brushes off grievance; Marvin T. Buckner from DOC/US Marshals confirms grievance process broken — directs to FOIA Internal Affairs.
Readexhibit
Handwritten Notes - Tunnel Video Discovery Request (Wilhoit serial)
Handwritten notes identifying another video footage Ryan needs for discovery, focusing on Officer Carlton Wilhoit striking McGrew with a baton and a conveniently failing body cam.
ReadCo-detainee14 documents in 4 items
Witness statements and letters from fellow January 6 detainees. These are attributed accounts, not court findings.
exhibit · Aug 26, 2022
U.S. Marshal IGP Report - Ricky Rice/Marvin Buckhalter/Chief Anderton (8/26/22)
Handwritten witness statement by Ryan Nichols (DCDC# 376795) dated 8/26/22 documenting a meeting with U.S. Marshal Ricky Rice at DC DOC cellblock C2B. Confirms that the Inmate Grievance Process at both CDF and CTF is broken. References Mr. Marvin T. Buckhalter and Chief Anderton. Co-signed by witnesses Peter F. Stager (DCDC# 376784) and James McGrew (DCDC# 377892).
Readexhibit · Jun 12, 2022
Timeline - JM (June 2022) - Jon Mellis recording, NPR Tom Dreisbach
Detailed timeline of June 2022 interactions with Jon Mellis (JM). 6/5/22 Ryan recorded Mellis 3 times admitting to nefarious activities including assaulting J6 inmates wanting to kill Tim, being behind an NPR article. 6/8/22 Mellis allegedly threatened to go nuclear / mutual destruction if Ryan shared the videos. James McGrew overheard. Witness intimidation evidence.
Readletter10 pages
James McGrew (USMC, VA dialysis) — Amendment-violations affidavit
Page 1 of letter/affidavit from fellow J6 detainee James McGrew (inmate #377892) listing violations of 1st, 4th, 5th(?), 6th, 8th, 14th Amendment rights. Describes being denied a renal diet despite ICU/dialysis history while held at Florence AZ US Marshall facility and Grady County Correctional in Oklahoma.
Readaffidavit2 pages
James McGrew veteran witness statement (2 pp., signed 4/6/22)
James McGrew (USMC Veteran, honorable discharge 2007, 60% disabled, IED blast 2005) page 1: VA records well-documented; DC DOC ignored his requests for over a year to get VA records and prescribe medications; constant hyper-vigilance since off meds; nightmares of war.
Read