A man from Dallas was sentenced to six months in prison on Friday for breaching his probation after attempting to travel abroad to join the Russian military in support of their efforts against Ukraine. Kevin Loftus, a 56-year-old Army veteran, was prevented from boarding a flight from Dallas to Tbilisi, Georgia, with a stopover in Istanbul, when Turkey’s airline identified a “security flag” linked to him, per federal prosecutors.
Prosecutors stated that Loftus did not have permission from the court to travel internationally or even to make a trip from Texas to Iowa, where he was subsequently arrested by the FBI three days following his disrupted travel plans. Loftus informed the FBI that he was seeking a 90-day visa to Russia, where he aimed to apply for temporary residency. He admitted to using the Telegram messaging service to connect with an individual who would help him enlist in the Russian Territorial Defense Unit, a volunteer military force.
According to prosecutors, Loftus had already transferred around $1,200 to this person to procure equipment for Russian soldiers, expressing his intention to fight alongside Russia against Ukraine. When sentenced by U.S. District Judge Dabney Friedrich, Loftus chose not to make a statement to the court. The judge criticized Loftus’s repeated disregard for court orders, suggesting he believes he is above the law.
Defense attorney Benjamin Schiffelbein claimed that Loftus’s desire to join the Russian military stemmed from a sense of empathy for Russian soldiers and a wish to support them, asserting that he was uncertain of his potential usefulness to their cause. Prosecutors emphasized that Loftus’s plan involved moving permanently to a different country, with the explicit intention of joining a foreign military force to oppose one of the U.S.’s allies, directly countering U.S. foreign policy.
In early January 2021, Loftus had traveled from Wisconsin to Washington, D.C., to participate in former President Donald Trump’s “Stop the Steal” rally. He joined the throng of supporters who stormed the Capitol, entering the building to take photographs for approximately five minutes. Following the riot, he was arrested in Wisconsin, eventually pleading guilty in October 2021 to a misdemeanor for parading or demonstrating in a Capitol building.
After his arrest, Loftus made comments on social media, calling himself “famous” and a “hero” for his role in the January 6 incident. He elaborated that his notoriety came from “standing up for all Americans” and mentioned plans to pursue lawsuits against unnamed individuals once his criminal case concluded.
Initially, prosecutors advocated for a 30-day jail term, although Judge Friedrich opted to impose three years of probation for his previous offenses. Following the violation of his probation, prosecutors sought a six-month prison term, particularly noting that in December 2023, while still on probation, Loftus faced charges for driving under the influence in Richardson, Texas, and had skipped a mandated substance abuse program. Loftus is among over 1,500 individuals facing charges related to the Capitol riot, with more than 1,000 already convicted and sentenced, receiving prison terms between a few days up to 22 years.
While Trump has pledged to pardon those involved in the Capitol riots, judges in Washington, D.C. typically continue to proceed with sentencing and court hearings without delay, regardless of the former president’s ambitions of returning to the White House.
