A Moorhead, Minnesota man was sentenced to federal prison on Monday for his role in violent protests that erupted in Fargo last May.
Acting U.S. Attorney Nick Chase announced on Monday the sentencing of Jonathan Montanez, 31, to two years in federal prison after he pleaded guilty to civil disorder in December.
According to court documents, on May 30, 2020, protests that took place in Fargo, North Dakota, following the death of George Floyd while in Minneapolis police custody on Memorial Day, turned violent.
Montanez was accused of damaging a police vehicle and provoking others to become violent and destructive. Officers were reportedly seriously injured in the incident and several businesses and vehicles in downtown Fargo were also damaged.
Montanez will be placed on supervision for three years following his release from prison.
Another man, Errick Toa, of Fargo, pleaded guilty to a similar charge in January related to the Fargo riots and is scheduled to be sentenced on April 13. Charges against Toa state that he was seen on video stomping on the windshield of an occupied police vehicle, shattering the windshield.
The cases were both investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Fargo Police Department and prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office.
– – –
Minnesota Crime Watch & Information publishes news, info and commentary about crime, public safety and livability issues in Minneapolis, the Twin Cities and Greater Minnesota.
Crime Watch MN
Minnesota Crime Watch & Information publishes news, info and commentary about crime, public safety and livability issues in Minneapolis, the Twin Cities and Greater Minnesota.
