A man who was being held pending his trial on charges related to the January 6, 2021, attacks on the Capitol remains in jail even after being pardoned by President Trump. Daniel Ball, who faced 12 criminal counts related to his alleged actions on January 6, was indicted by federal authorities in Florida on gun possession charges and was arrested while still in jail two days after he was pardoned. Instead of being released from custody like many pardoned January 6 participants, Ball has been transferred to a jail in Florida where his new case is pending.

If you are facing criminal charges, you need an experienced attorney who can defend you and protect your rights. Because even in the rare case where you receive a pardon, it doesn't necessarily mean that you'll be free of issues relating to all past criminal allegations. The LLF Law Firm's seasoned Criminal Defense Team is here to help. Call us today at 888.535.3686 or use our contact form to schedule a confidential consultation with one of our experienced attorneys.

The January 6 Charges Against Daniel Ball

Ball was arrested in May of 2023 at his home in Florida on charges related to his alleged participation in the January 6, 2021, demonstrations at the United States Capitol building. He was indicted on 12 different counts, including Civil Disorder, assault on Federal Officers, and Use of Explosives to Commit a Felony, among others. The Magistrate Judge overseeing Ball's initial detention hearing noted that Ball faced “some of the most violent and serious offenses of any of the charges being brought against participants in the January 6 events.”

His case was awaiting trial when he was among those pardoned by President Trump on January 20, 2025; the government moved to dismiss the indictment against Ball on January 21, and the judge granted the motion and dismissed the case against him that same day.

The Gun Charges Against Daniel Ball

Ball, unlike many of the other January 6 defendants pardoned by President Trump, did not go free after his pending case was dismissed. Instead, he was arrested on January 22 while still in custody in Washington on the January 6 charges. His arrest was based on a federal indictment from August of 2024 from the Middle District of Florida that charges Ball with illegal possession of a firearm.

According to federal prosecutors in Florida, officers found a rifle and ammunition in Ball's home when he was arrested on the January 6 charges. But because Ball had three previous convictions for crimes “punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year” – one in 2017 for domestic violence and two in 2021 for resisting police and battery on police – he was prohibited by federal law from having both the rifle and the ammunition. Ball now faces up to 15 years in prison on the new gun charges.

The LLF Law Firm Will Defend You Against Criminal Charges

Suppose you are facing criminal charges of any kind – federal or state – you need the help of an experienced criminal defense attorney. Even if you've been pardoned in the past, the scope of your pardon may not cover the charges you're facing. And because we have two systems of criminal justice in the US – federal and state – a federal pardon is unlikely to have any effect on state criminal charges and a pardon at the state level is unlikely to protect you against federal criminal charges.

The experienced attorneys from the LLF Law Firm's Criminal Defense Team understand how pardons work in Pennsylvania. We also understand Pennsylvania's criminal laws and court procedures, and we defend clients from all types of criminal charges in courts all across the state. We are here to fight for your rights and to defend you against charges that can affect you for the rest of your life.

Call the LLF Law Firm today to learn more about how we can defend you against criminal charges, whether at the state or federal level. Our number is 888.535.3686, or you can use our online contact form to schedule a confidential consultation with one of our experienced criminal defense attorneys. Let the LLF Law Firm help you protect your future.