Benjamin J. Martin

Benjamin J. Martin, a former real estate agent and conservative activist from Madera, California known locally for leading anti-mask protests during the COVID-19 pandemic, took part in the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol riot. He pleaded not guilty to all charges; a federal jury convicted him on 6/26/2024 of civil disorder, disorderly conduct, and other charges following a trial, though the court later dismissed the separate obstruction count on 10/15/2024. He was sentenced on 12/20/2024 to 13 months of incarceration, 36 months of supervised release, a $170 special assessment, and $2,000 in restitution; Martin was separately convicted in a bench trial in Fresno, California of illegal firearm possession unrelated to the Jan. 6 case, for which he received an additional, consecutive prison term.