WASHINGTON — A New York man who attacked multiple police officers on Jan. 6 – including an assault that sent an officer careening off a 5-foot-high ledge – was sentenced Tuesday to six-and-a-half years in prison.
Ralph Celentano III, 56, of Broad Channel, was convicted at trial in June of two felony charges of civil disorder and assaulting police, as well as multiple misdemeanor offenses. He was acquitted of a third felony count for obstructing the joint session of Congress.
In their sentencing memo, federal prosecutors described Celentano as a supporter of former President Donald Trump who was unhappy about the election and who joined with other rioters on Jan. 6 to berate officers and break through police lines. Prosecutors said Celentano attacked multiple officers, including using their own riot shields against them. Most egregiously, they said, he “blind-side tackled’ U.S. Capitol Police Officer Kenrick Ellis from behind – causing Ellis to go “flying over a 5-foot-high ledge” and land on other people below.
After the assault on Ellis, Celentano recorded a video of himself on the West Plaza of the Capitol saying, “We did it boys, we stormed the Capitol. Here we are, for all to see. A sea of American patriots.” In a message later in the day on Jan. 6, Celentano said he’d fought police and “kicked a**.” Three days later, he bragged about joining other rioters in breaking through a police line.
“It all got wild fighting then we broke thru a line and took that whole area ever [sic],” he wrote in another message.
Prosecutors sought more than 11 years in prison for what they described as Celentano’s “depraved criminal acts.”
“Deterrence is extraordinarily important – not just for the defendant specifically but for all the other people watching,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Jacqueline Schesnol said during Tuesday’s sentencing hearing.
Celentano, a former carpenter who suffered work-related injures that left him unable to continue in his career, sought a sentence of home incarceration. His attorneys argued he’d become stuck at home in front of the television and had been led to D.C. on Jan. 6 by misinformation.
“This is someone who had a law-abiding life for 53 years and then continued to lead a law-abiding life after his arrest,” Assistant Federal Defender Marissa Sherman said.
U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly said Celentano’s “egregious” assault on Ellis warranted a prison sentence.
“The assault on Officer Ellis was a truly cowardly and despicable thing to do,” Kelly said.
Kelly sentenced Celentano to 78 months, or six-and-a-half years, in prison and three years of supervised release. He agreed to recommend Celentano be placed at FCI Fort Dix in New Jersey.