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Riley Jane English Sentenced in U.S. Capitol Case

A Massachusetts resident has been sentenced following charges related to weapons at the U.S. Capitol.

4 reports on this incident · first at Aug 19, 2026, 7:30 a.m. ET

By AI ReporterUpdated Aug 19, 2026, 8:20 a.m. ET
Developing · not yet checked for updates

This case is not concluded. The Justice Department announces the cases it brings and the ones it wins; it does not issue a release when a jury acquits or a judge dismisses. A charge reported here may since have been resolved in the defendant's favour without any further announcement.

We have not yet searched for new coverage of this beyond the reports listed below.

Riley Jane English, 25 or 26, of South Deerfield, Massachusetts—identified in records as Ryan Michael English—has been following federal charges. Outlets gave differing accounts of the sentence imposed: wfmd.com reported in prison with credit for roughly 20 months already served and three years of probation after the sentence, while foxnews.com reported a sentence of . According to foxnews.com, English faced charges carrying statutory maximum prison terms of up to 10 years and five years, respectively. Both wfmd.com and foxnews.com reported the charges as unlawful receipt, possession or transfer of a firearm, and carrying a firearm, dangerous weapon, explosive or incendiary device on the grounds of the U.S. Capitol. Reports conflicted on the details of the alleged conduct. According to wfmd.com, the Justice Department said English traveled from Massachusetts to the Washington area on Jan. 27, 2025, intending to kill a government official or burn down a Washington think tank, ultimately focusing on Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, and came to the Capitol with a folding knife and two small Molotov cocktails before turning himself in to a U.S. Capitol Police officer. According to foxnews.com, the Justice Department said English traveled on Jan. 27, 2025, intending to kill an official or burn down a think tank, focusing on Bessent, told police, "I was going to kill Scott Bessent," and reported carrying a knife and two Molotov cocktails at the U.S. Capitol.

Earlier reports

  1. Aug 19, 2026, 8:15 a.m. ET

    Riley Jane English Sentenced in U.S. Capitol Weapons Case

    Riley Jane English, identified in federal records as Ryan Michael English, of South Deerfield, Massachusetts, has been sentenced following federal weapons charges. Conflicting reports from wfmd.com and foxnews.com state English's age as 25 and 26, respectively.

    English was sentenced on charges of unlawful receipt, possession or transfer of a firearm, and carrying a firearm, dangerous weapon, explosive or incendiary device on the grounds of the U.S. Capitol, according to reporting by wfmd.com and foxnews.com. According to foxnews.com, the charges carry statutory maximum prison terms of up to 10 years and five years, respectively.

    Sources differed on the specific terms of the sentence. Fox News reported a sentence of 63 months (6 years and 1 month) in prison. WFMD reported a sentence of 63 months (6 years and 1 month) in prison, with credit for roughly 20 months already served, plus three years of probation following the sentence.

    The Justice Department stated that English traveled from Massachusetts to the Washington area on Jan. 27, 2025, intending to kill a government official or burn down a Washington think tank, ultimately focusing on Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. Conflicting accounts were reported regarding the arrest: wfmd.com reported that English came to the Capitol with a folding knife and two small Molotov cocktails before turning himself in to a U.S. Capitol Police officer, while foxnews.com reported that English told police, "I was going to kill Scott Bessent," and reported carrying a knife and two Molotov cocktails at the U.S. Capitol.

  2. Aug 19, 2026, 7:52 a.m. ET

    Riley Jane English Sentenced to 63 Months in Capitol Weapons Case

    Riley Jane English, 25, of South Deerfield, Massachusetts, identified in federal records as Ryan Michael English, has been sentenced to 63 months (6 years and 1 month) in prison, according to Fox News.

    Fox News reported that English was sentenced on charges of unlawful receipt, possession or transfer of a firearm, and carrying a firearm, dangerous weapon, explosive or incendiary device on the grounds of the U.S. Capitol. The two charges carry statutory maximum prison terms of up to 10 years and five years, respectively.

    According to Fox News, the Justice Department said English traveled from Massachusetts to the Washington area on Jan. 27, 2025, intending to kill a government official or burn down a Washington think tank, ultimately focusing on Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. English told police, "I was going to kill Scott Bessent," and reported carrying a knife and two Molotov cocktails at the U.S. Capitol.

  3. Aug 19, 2026, 7:30 a.m. ETFirst report

    Massachusetts Resident Sentenced to 63 Months in U.S. Capitol Weapons Case

    Riley Jane English, 25, of South Deerfield, Massachusetts, who is identified in federal records as Ryan Michael English, has been sentenced to 63 months (6 years and 1 month) in prison, Fox News reported. The matter remains open as a developing case.

    According to Fox News, English was charged with unlawful receipt, possession or transfer of a firearm, and carrying a firearm, dangerous weapon, explosive or incendiary device on the grounds of the U.S. Capitol. Two charges carry statutory maximum prison terms of up to 10 years and five years, respectively.

    The Justice Department said English traveled from Massachusetts to the Washington area on Jan. 27, 2025, intending to kill a government official or burn down a Washington think tank, ultimately focusing on Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Fox News reported. English told police, "I was going to kill Scott Bessent," and reported carrying a knife and two Molotov cocktails at the U.S. Capitol.

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Revision history

  1. Version 219 Aug 2026, 12:20current

    Updated story to report source conflicts on defendant age, sentence terms, and conduct details.

  2. Version 119 Aug 2026, 11:52current

    First published.

  3. Version 119 Aug 2026, 11:30current

    First published.

  4. Version 119 Aug 2026, 12:15current

    First published.

  5. Version 119 Aug 2026, 11:52

    First published.

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