Carter Camacho, 18, of Smyrna, Georgia, pleaded guilty on July 27 in U.S. District Court to charges related to his possession of a loaded shotgun on the grounds of the U.S. Capitol Building and possession of child pornography, according to an announcement by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Camacho entered his plea before Judge Amit P. Mehta to one count of unlawful possession of a firearm within the United States Capitol Buildings or Grounds and one count of receipt of visual depictions of sexually explicit conduct. Judge Mehta scheduled sentencing for December 8.
According to court documents, on February 17 Camacho parked a white Mercedes SUV on Maryland Avenue SE between First and Third Streets at around 12:07 p.m., exited the vehicle wearing a tactical-style vest and camouflage-style clothing, and ran toward the United States Capitol carrying a firearm. Upon reaching the steps on the western side of the Capitol, he was approached by a uniformed officer with the U.S. Capitol Police, who asked what he was carrying. Camacho produced the firearm as requested by the officer, who then ordered him to halt and lie down.
Once Camacho complied, officers recovered a Mossberg Model 88 12-gauge shotgun loaded with seven rounds in the tube and one in the chamber with its safety off; an additional seventeen rounds were attached to its stock. Officers placed Camacho in handcuffs after he told them he was there “to talk to a Member of Congress.” Officers traced his path back to his vehicle, where they found a fixed blade knife about forty feet away from it; they also searched his cell phone, which led investigators to discover dozens of images and over one hundred videos depicting child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Investigators determined that Camacho had purchased CSAM.
The case is being investigated by both the U.S. Capitol Police Department and Federal Bureau of Investigation – Washington Field Office. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Brendan M. Horan is prosecuting this case while detailed from United States Capitol Police.