A former Houston police officer pleaded guilty to his involvement in the U.S. Capitol insurrection on Monday.
Eighteen-year HPD veteran and Richmond resident Tam Dinh Pham entered an agreement pleading guilty to parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a Capitol Building — which carries a maximum sentence of 6 months in prison and a maximum fine of $5,000.
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In an affidavit filed with the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, Pham was accused of entering the Capitol building during the Jan. 6 riot after attending President Donald Trump's rally in the morning.
According to court documents, Pham denied going the Capitol building during an interview with investigators, but backtracked after photos and videos of what appeared to show Pham inside the building were found in his phone’s “recently deleted” photo album.
Investigators say Pham admitted to following other rally-goers towards the U.S. Capitol building, and climbed over fallen-over fences and passed through barricades as he made his way inside. According to court records, Pham said that he stayed inside the building for about 10 to 15 minutes before exiting.
Tam Pham, a former Houston police officer, has pleaded guilty to his involvement in the riots at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. #HouNews
You can read his plea agreement here: https://t.co/PAxbOC2s8E pic.twitter.com/8Z5umWSopJ
— FBI Houston (@FBIHouston) September 21, 2021
One week after attack, Pham resigned from the Houston Police Department after former HPD Chief Art Acevedo revealed that the former officer was under federal investigation.
Pham was arrested on January 20, and initially charged with knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority, and violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds.
His sentencing is scheduled for the morning of Dec. 9.
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