(WNY News Now) – A Rochester man who admitted to participating in violent protests and assaulting officers has been sentenced to nearly three years in federal prison.
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — JohnMichael Santiago, 25, of Rochester, New York, was sentenced to 33 months in prison after pleading guilty to civil disorder and assaulting a federal officer, U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced. Santiago’s conviction stems from a series of protests that escalated into confrontations with law enforcement in September 2020, following the public release of information regarding Daniel Prude’s death in police custody.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Moynihan detailed that on September 4, 2020, protests began in Rochester in response to the Prude case, with a group of demonstrators damaging property and overturning tables at local restaurants, causing patrons to flee. Santiago joined approximately 1,500 protesters on September 5 near Rochester Police Department (RPD) headquarters. While most protestors gathered peacefully, a faction clashed with law enforcement, with some throwing rocks, bottles, and fireworks at officers and blocking traffic.
Santiago admitted to throwing an ignited firework at a line of uniformed officers. While not arrested at the scene, he later acknowledged bringing fireworks to the protest with the intent to use them against police. Santiago was subsequently taken into custody and charged.
While detained at Livingston County Jail, Santiago further assaulted two correctional officers by throwing a hard plastic cup at one officer and striking another in the face, which led to injuries, including a concussion and back injury for the officers.
The case was investigated by the Rochester Police Department, the FBI, and the U.S. Marshals Service, led by Chief David Smith, FBI Special Agent Matthew Miraglia, and Marshal Charles Salina.