by The Chief
Jorge Riley, a local Sacramento GOP activist, pled guilty last week to charges relating to his storming of the Capital to “Stop the Steal” a couple years ago. In exchange for pleading guilty, he will only have 1 count on his record, the other 4 will be dismissed.
This comeuppance has been a long time coming for Riley, he has been on a destructive path for years. Riley has a rap sheet that makes career criminals jealous. I know of at least 1 DUI, likely more, and a slew of charges related to unpaid child support. I am not sure of the number of kids and how many women they are by. Riley also is a heavy drinker, I refuse to say he has a problem, because he never has a problem finding the bottle.
Riley was arrested a couple months after the “Stop the Steal” rally at the Capital. Not due to anyone ratting him out, he ratted out himself. Riley is a Grade A braggart when it comes to his Facebook and other social media. He posted over 150 messages and videos according to the complaint against him. Worst yet, the man has never had an unspoken thought; his rantings (likely fueled by booze) target minorities, Democrats, women and other groups. His comments are typically vile in nature making even this single male blogger cringe. One may ask why no one tried to stop his behavior…that’s because those around him and in power supported it. I literally saw him countless times at GOP meetings and conventions literally walking around with a backpack filled with vodka that he was drinking through a siphon. He reeked of hard liquor, so much so I could barely tell what brand it was. My understanding is his use of drugs and alcohol was to cope with PTSD or some type of condition he got while in the military. My issue? During a hearing, his attorney admitted Riley has never been outside the US. I’m trying to be sensitive to mental health, but I just think Riley is an addict.
I have a source who claims Riley had numerous outbursts at his initial hearings here in Sacramento at the federal courthouse. So much so he was ordered held on no-bail. Annoying a judge isn’t the best move when that person is likely to sentence you. NOTE: The venue was moved to DC so it will be a different judge who heard the guilty plea and will handle sentencing. Riley was also far from the model prisoner at Sac County jail, having to be moved multiple times due to being a Grade A dickhead. AKA normal behavior for Riley.
Riley is still in a lot of trouble, preliminary reports are a federal lockup of 41-51 months, another report said maximum of around 20 years, a different report had a line about judge Amit Mehta considering “enhancements.” I would bet he is looking at around 6 years in jail, his behavior, plus his bragging and some of his comments online will hang him. The judge is seeing that Riley is not sorry or repentant at all. Problem for Riley is that he is facing federal not state time. The feds typically do not do good time credits for behavior, he will serve his entire sentence. (Riley’s indictment and plea can be found in this article.)
My hot take: Riley is a clown and piece of work, more so it’s his enablers that made this happen, he was never reigned in. Sue Blake, Terry Mast (RIP), Craig DeLuz, Bill Cardoza and others routinely looked the other way or supported him. In the case of Cardoza, he was even stupid enough to post to Facebook the local CRA chapter giving Riley a lifetime achievement award. DUMB
Riley is going away for a while, but the CRA and other groups should not be left unscathed. Sorry, not sorry. They needed to remove Riley as a member and put pressure on the local group to do the same. Riley is a net negative, not a single redeeming quality about him. Yet several of the members attacked my conservative credentials. Yup they chose a drunken moron over me.
The irony in this whole bit? Riley was a never Trump guy, like most of the rest of the CRA. It’s sad.