A federal judge has sentenced Frisco real estate broker Jenna Ryan to 60 days in jail for her role in the Jan. 6 riot in the nation’s Capitol. She also received a $1,000 fine and was ordered to pay $500 in restitution to the Capitol architect.
In the immediate aftermath of the insurrection, Ryan called herself a patriot and boasted that she would not be going to jail. Her outspoken social media posts brought her national and international attention. She even reached out to the author of a Jan. 7 Candy’s Dirt article to say, “thanks for making me famous.” However, not long after that, she threatened to sue the news site for portraying her in a negative light.
Upon being arrested charged with four federal crimes, Ryan began singing a different tune, telling reporters that she had bought into a lie and regretted everything.
Ryan eventually pled guilty to one count of parading, picketing, or demonstrating in the U.S. Capitol. She faced up to six months in jail and a fine of up to $5,000. U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper opted to go with the much lighter sentence recommended by the Justice Department.
Upon delivering the sentence, Cooper said it was clear that Ryan knew what she was doing when she left her hotel to go to the Capitol. He added that while taking into account her social media posts and a letter she wrote him, those factors were not the driving force behind his sentence. He added that he hoped the sentence she received would show others that attacking democratic institutions would be taken very seriously.
“No one is being prosecuted for the belief that the election was stolen,” Cooper said to Ryan. “If you had the good sense not to leave your hotel room, or not go in once you saw what was happening, you wouldn’t be here.”
Ryan is apparently still active in North Texas real estate. Online records show she is currently working under the name Jennifer Rodgers for a company called First Place Real Estate. On the day she was sentenced, her website had no featured listings.
