Washington — Shocking revelations emerged on Thursday as a former government employee with ties to federal intelligence agencies was apprehended in Virginia. The individual, identified as Miguel Zapata, stands accused of fabricating false tips to the FBI, in which he wrongly accused multiple former coworkers of participating in the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol breach.
According to court documents, investigators claim that Zapata, in an anonymous capacity, provided information about seven individuals he had previously worked with in the aftermath of the Capitol attack. The submissions alleged that these coworkers "espoused conspiracy theories" and were involved in the insurrection.
Prosecutors allege that between February and April 2021, Zapata crafted fictitious narratives regarding his ex-colleagues' roles in the Jan. 6 events. These stories were then sent through the FBI's anonymous tip line, established to gather intel following the Capitol breach, which has seen over 1,300 individuals facing charges for their alleged involvement.
"These tips variously alleged that the government employees and contractors were physically present at or involved in the attack at the Capitol or had shared classified information with individuals and groups present at the riot with the intent to assist these groups in overthrowing the United States government," stated the charging documents.
Zapata stands accused of sharing sensitive information about his former colleagues with the FBI, leading to investigations into their alleged misconduct based on inaccurate data.
Court records confirm that none of the seven individuals flagged were present in Washington, D.C., during the January 6 events at the Capitol.
One report claimed that an individual at the workplace endorsed extremist views and boasted about affiliations with groups like the Boogaloo Bois, Proud Boys, and Oath Keepers.
Among those reported to the FBI was Zapata's former program manager who initially hired him back in 2015.
Another tip alleged that a victim shared classified information with these extremist groups to aid in their efforts to overthrow the government.
Zapata faces charges for providing false statements to law enforcement. He appeared in federal court and was released on personal recognizance pending further proceedings.
His legal counsel did not respond to requests for comment from CBS News.
Investigation Reveals Fake Tips Were Traced Back to Defendant
Following an investigation, authorities discovered that the fake tips, although submitted anonymously, originated from four specific IP addresses linked to the defendant's accounts. The language used in the submissions and the victims' ties to the federal government led the FBI to delve deeper into identifying the individual behind the complaints.
