PHILADELPHIA (October 12, 2022) – District Attorney Larry Krasner on Wednesday issued the following statement on the convictions following a waiver trial of two defendants from Virginia who were arrested nearly two years ago for firearms offenses outside of the Pennsylvania Convention Center as votes in the 2020 presidential election were being counted:
“Thanks to the collaborative investigative work of our partners in law enforcement with the FBI and Philadelphia Police, Antonio LaMotta and Joshua Macias were stopped and arrested as they approached the Pennsylvania Convention Center while armed on November 5, 2020, as election workers were diligently counting Philadelphia’s votes in a presidential contest that has proved defining for the course of our nation’s history. Since then, my office has worked vigorously to make sure LaMotta and Macias were held accountable for their crimes and denied future opportunities to subvert American democracy, including after both participated in events surrounding the January 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.
“Following a waiver trial today, the Hon. Lucretia Clemons found LaMotta and Macias guilty of two counts each of Violations of the Uniform Firearms Act. The felony convictions invalidate them from legally purchasing or owning firearms under Virginia law, many other state laws, and federal law. I am incredibly grateful to our prosecutors assigned to the Election Task Force and the Gun Violence Task Force who have worked over the past 23 months to secure these convictions. Let this be a lesson not to illegally bring firearms to Philly’s elections. If you commit a crime while seeking to undermine people’s right to vote, and to have their votes appropriately counted, you will be held accountable.
“We are grateful to our law enforcement partners at the federal level, who have already federally arrested and charged LaMotta for his participation in the January 6th insurrection. Macias’s appearances on video in the company of the leadership of the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers during the eve of January 6 in Washington D.C., during recent hearings of the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the U.S. Capitol indicate there may be yet more consequences for him, as well.
“While we respect the court’s authority and decision today, it seems clear that post-January 6th, the decades-old statute regarding Interference with Primaries and Elections ought to be revisited and improved by the Pennsylvania Legislature. I encourage every Pennsylvanian who loves democracy and equality to vote this November for legislators who will seek to extend democratic participation to all Americans — not seize it by force or impeachment from political opponents.”
CONTACT:
Jane Roh, 215-686-8711, [email protected]
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The Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office is the largest prosecutor’s office in Pennsylvania, and one of the largest in the nation. It serves the more than 1.5 million residents of the City and County of Philadelphia, employing 600 lawyers, detectives, and support staff. The District Attorney’s Office is responsible for the prosecution of approximately 40,000 criminal cases annually. Learn more about the DAO by visiting PhillyDA.org.
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