Just three days after the third anniversary of Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection on the U.S. Capitol, a Hammond man who plead guilty to his role in the day’s events has been released from prison.

Kash Lee Kelly, 34, of Hammond, posted a couple photos of himself on Facebook and shared a short video message about his return to the region.

“I just want to let everybody know this is the official real Facebook. I’m out. I’m free. I’ll be seeing you all very soon. Love you all. God bless. Unite don’t fight,” Kelly said in a 16 second video posted to his new Facebook account.

Another post had more than 130 comments less than an hour after it went online with commenters welcoming him home and wishing him and his family well.

“I just want to say thank you to all of you who supported me through my journey. I love and appreciate all of you and can’t wait to tell you all about the crazy ride it’s been. I love you all. #unitedon’tfight,” Kelly wrote.

Kelly was charged with knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority; violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol Grounds. In exchange for pleading guilty on Nov. 10, 2022 to one count of parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol Building, the other charges were dropped. Kelly was sentenced to 60 days of incarceration and $500 in restitution.

Kelly is one of more than 890 individuals convicted of actions related to the Jan. 6 insurrection. More than 1,200 Americans have been criminally charged for their alleged actions during the riot, according to the Justice Department.

On Jan. 9, 2021, the FBI received two anonymous tips that Kelly “breached the U.S. Capitol Building,” including multiple photos he posted of himself on Facebook scaling the walls of the building and posing with a monument inside the United States Capitol Building,” according to court documents.

“The day we let the Traitors who constantly push the divide in OUR country know that we are done playing their games. All ppl of all colors came together today and I couldn’t be more proud to be an AMERICAN,” said a caption with the screenshot of Kelly inside the Capitol with the statue.

Kelly’s case was complicated by the fact he was in prison on federal charges in an unrelated drug case as his charges stemming from Jan. 6 made its way through the court system. Kelly was serving a four-year sentence on conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and marijuana during his time as a member of the Latin Kings. He was also required to serve three years of supervised release in the matter. He was first indicted in the matter in February 2015.

At the time of his sentencing on the drug charges, Assistant U.S. Attorney David Nozick said it was “disheartening” and “disappointing” that Kelly broke into the Capitol. His participation in the Capitol riots sentencing more difficult after his cooperation in the drug case, U.S. District Judge Philip Simon said at the time.

Simon at the time said it was “breathtaking” that Kelly “would think it’s a good idea” to travel to Washington about a month before his sentencing hearing.

Kelly at the time said it was wrong of him to take the photo in the capitol, but it was not wrong for him to be there.

An account seeking to raise $5,000 to help Kelly get back on his feet was launched so he “can get some income to get back to work and share the truth while being an independent journalist and social media influencer,” had raised $350 of its goal.

During an May 2022 interview with the Post-Tribune from a Washington, D.C., jail, Kelly said, “Today, I still don’t believe that the election was fair. I still feel the same way, just not as extreme, I guess. If there was some kind of conspiracy and there was something going on, I don’t think Joe Biden had anything to do with it.”

The U.S. Marshals Service’s Northern Indiana office did not return a request for comment.

Daily Southtown reporter Alexandra Kukulka contributed.

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Originally Published: Jan 09, 2024 at 3:34 pm