Federal authorities charged an Atlantic County man with participating in a riot in Atlantic City on May 31st following a day of otherwise peaceful protests, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced today.
Federal officials say Mr. Carlos A. Matchett, 30, of Atlantic Citywas arrested June 3, 2020, by special agents of the FBI and is charged by complaint with use of a facility of interstate and foreign commerce, namely, a cellular telephone, and the social media platform Facebook, with intent to participate in and carry on a riot.
Officials say, Matchett will make his initial appearance later today by videoconference before U.S. Magistrate Judge Karen M. Williams.
According to the complaint:
During the evening of May 31, 2020, following protests in Atlantic City, a group of people engaged in a spree of rioting, destruction, and looting in and around the Tanger Outlets, an area known locally as “the Walk.”
Police responded to the area and observed Matchett standing in the middle of a roadway shouting obscenities at law enforcement and enticing persons around him to join in looting. After Matchett refused orders to disperse, police arrested him.
During a search, they found a knife, a hatchet, and a jar filled with gasoline inside a backpack that he was wearing.
Further investigation revealed that shortly before his arrest, Matchett made public postings on his Facebook page linking to a news article about looting in Philadelphia and remarking to others, “LET’S START A RIOT.” Matchett also posted a video on Facebook on May 31, 2020, that showed him encouraging and assisting others in the vicinity of the Tanger Outlets in Atlantic City to loot goods from smashed store fronts.