A former government employee, Miguel Eugenio Zapata, has been arrested and charged with submitting fake tips to the FBI accusing his co-workers of being part of the mob that attacked the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Zapata, 37, was arrested in Chantilly, Virginia, for making false statements to law enforcement. He submitted at least seven anonymous tips claiming that seven government employees and contractors were involved in the Capitol riot, even though they were not in Washington, D.C., on that day. The tips were similar in language and were submitted from four IP addresses using a company’s web anonymizer service.
Court records do not identify which government agency employed Zapata, but the affidavit indicates that he had previously worked with all seven people named in his false tips. One of the individuals had hired Zapata and served as his program manager. The FBI determined that all seven named individuals were working in Virginia when the Capitol attack occurred. Zapata’s first tip, submitted on Feb. 10, 2021, accused a former co-worker of trying to overthrow the government and espousing conspiracy theories. Another tip accused an intelligence agency contractor of sharing classified information with far-right extremist groups, although there was no evidence to support these claims.
The affidavit does not specify a motive for Zapata’s false reports. The FBI confirmed that none of the individuals named in the tips were involved in the Capitol riot. After the Jan. 6 insurrection, the FBI received numerous tips from friends, relatives, and co-workers of suspected rioters. Over 1,300 people have been charged in connection with the attack on the Capitol. An email seeking comment was sent to an attorney representing Zapata, but there has been no response yet. The investigation into Zapata’s actions is ongoing, and it is unclear what penalties he may face if convicted of making false statements to law enforcement.
The unidentified company’s logs showed that Zapata’s user account accessed the FBI’s tips site and conducted research on two of his targets, as well as searching Google for the term “fbi mole” and accessing the website of an Office of Inspector General for an intelligence agency. It is concerning that Zapata used a company’s web anonymizer service to submit the false tips, indicating a deliberate attempt to conceal his identity while making these accusations. The case raises questions about the potential consequences of submitting fake tips to law enforcement and the impact it can have on the individuals targeted by false allegations.
The FBI’s verification that the individuals named in Zapata’s tips were not involved in the Capitol riot highlights the importance of thoroughly investigating such claims before taking any action. False reports can have serious repercussions for the individuals accused, as well as wasting law enforcement resources and diverting attention from legitimate threats. It is crucial for authorities to carefully evaluate the credibility of tips and gather evidence before pursuing any charges or accusations. The case serves as a reminder of the need for caution and thoroughness in dealing with information provided to law enforcement agencies, especially in high-profile cases like the Capitol attack.
