Joseph Pavlik

Joseph Pavlik, a retired Chicago firefighter and member of the "B Squad" within the Florida-based Guardians of Freedom militia group, traveled from Illinois to Washington, D.C. with fellow members on 1/5/2021 and, during the Jan. 6, 2021 riot, was the first of his group to push against the police line at the Lower West Terrace Tunnel, forcing his way forward despite officers' efforts to hold him back while carrying a canister of chemical spray that he passed to another rioter who used it on officers. He pleaded guilty to two charges, civil disorder and entering a restricted building or grounds with a dangerous weapon, with other charges dismissed. He was sentenced on 12/1/2023 to 2 months of incarceration, 6 months of home confinement, 24 months of supervised release, a $6,000 fine, $2,000 in restitution, and a $200 special assessment.