Daniel Ball was in jail in Washington awaiting trial on charges stemming from his alleged participation in the January 6, 2021, attacks on the U.S. Capitol building when he was among the many pardoned by President Donald Trump on January 20, 2025. Ball's case was dismissed on January 21, which under normal circumstances would have resulted in his release from custody shortly thereafter. Instead, on January 22, Ball was arrested on federal gun charges that indirectly flowed from his arrest in the January 6 case.

If you are facing state or federal criminal charges in New Jersey, or you have a question about the scope of a pardon you've received, the Lento Law Firm's Criminal Defense Team can help. Call us at 888.535.3686 or use our contact form to schedule a confidential consultation with one of our experienced New Jersey criminal defense attorneys.

Daniel Ball's January 6 Charges

Ball had been indicted on 12 counts related to his alleged participation in the violent demonstrations at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. Among the charges he faced were charges of assaulting federal officers, using explosives to commit a felony, and civil disorder.

He was arrested in May of 2023 at his Florida home and was being held pending trial in a Washington, DC jail. His request to be released before his trial was denied, in part because, in the words of the Magistrate Judge overseeing Ball's detention hearing, Ball was facing “some of the most violent and serious offenses of any of the charges being brought against participants in the January 6 events.”

Ball was among the roughly 1500 people pardoned by President Trump on January 20, 2025. The government moved quickly to dismiss Ball's indictment as a result of the pardon, and the judge granted the motion on January 21.

Daniel Ball's Gun Charges

When Ball was arrested at his home in Florida in May of 2023 on the January 6 charges, law enforcement officers found a CBC Model 702 Plinkster .22 caliber rifle as well as gun ammunition. Under normal circumstances, this might not have been a problem. Ball, however, had a criminal record.

In particular, Ball had been convicted in 2017 of Domestic Violence Battery by Strangulation and in 2021 of Resisting Law Enforcement with Violence and of Battery on a Law Enforcement Officer. Each of these charges was punishable by a prison sentence of more than one year. This was important because it meant that, under federal law, Ball was prohibited from owning or possessing both the rifle and the ammunition.

He was indicted on the gun charges in August of 2024 but was only arrested once he was about to be released after being pardoned by President Trump. Ball faces up to 15 years in prison on the gun charges.

The Lento Law Firm Can Defend You Against Criminal Charges in New Jersey

Whether you are facing state or federal criminal charges in New Jersey, the Lento Law Firm's Criminal Defense Team is here to help. We defend people charged with everything from disorderly persons offenses to indictable offenses in state court and with misdemeanors to felonies in federal court. Our experienced attorneys understand the laws, rules, and procedures that apply in criminal cases, and we'll use that knowledge combined with our experience to vigorously defend you against the charges you're facing.

Don't try to defend yourself when your future and your liberty are on the line! Call the Lento Law Firm today at 888.535.3686 or use our contact form to schedule a confidential consultation with one of our experienced criminal defense attorneys. Tell us about your case, and we'll tell you how we can help.