- Some Capitol riot defendants are looking for ways to capitalize on their involvement.
- The AP reported that people are trying to get publishing deals and are releasing rap albums.
- Others are trying to sell their video footage, with one charged rioter saying: "I hope to turn it into a movie."
Some defendants who are facing charges for their involvement in the January 6 Capitol riot are working to cash in some checks and promote themselves through various ventures, The Associated Press reported on Sunday.
A man from Virginia dropped a rap album with riot subject matter that included a photo of him sitting on a police car outside the Capitol, according to the report.
Another man who is currently behind bars with riot-related charges told his mother to reach out to book publishers, The AP reported.
One man, identified as Jeremy Grace, started to sell T-shirts and other paraphernalia with photos of the Capitol that had slogans like "Back the Blue," the report said.
The outlet reported prosecutors called Grace's efforts "especially disturbing" due to viewing fellow rioters have encounters with police during the attack, The AP reported.
Other riot defendants received funds from selling footage of the riot. Another man lost some cash after authorities seized $62,000 after selling his footage to multiple companies, according to The AP.
Additionally, prosecutors said a man, identified as Ronald Sandlin, made claims online that he was "working out a Netflix deal," referring to selling his footage.
"I hope to turn it into a movie," he reportedly wrote in a text last year."I plan on having Leonardo DiCaprio play me."
Over 340 rioters have pleaded guilty, and nearly 900 people have been charged in connection to the Capitol riot so far, according to an Insider database. Pro-Trump supporters stormed the Capitol building in 2020, forcing Congress to go on lockdown as they were certifying the presidential election.
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