On Friday, federal prosecutors indicted two New York members of the far-right group The Proud Boys after saying that the men conspired to prevent the application of the law that protected the United States Capitol. Although more than 170 people have been charged in connection with January 6 attack on the US Capitol, only a handful were accused of conspiracy.
In a press release, prosecutors said Dominic Pezzola, 43, of Rochester, New York, and William Pepe, 31, of Beacon, New York, removed metal barricades and stole property belonging to Capitol police. Investigators said Pezzola also confronted and stole a riot shield from a Capitol police officer.
Pezzola and Pepe were arrested earlier this month on minor charges, but the grand jury charge on Friday contains new allegations that are among the most serious linked to the Proud Boys, a group that former President Trump said to “step back and wait” during a presidential debate in September. AN who describes himself as organizer of the Proud Boys of the group’s events on January 6 was arrested earlier this month in Florida.
On Saturday, the documents accusing the men of conspiracy had not yet appeared in the government’s online database and details of the men’s alleged conspiracy remained unclear.
CBS News
In a criminal complaint filed on January 13, prosecutors said Pezzola was filmed using that shield to break a window and crawl into the United States Capitol. In photos and videos taken during the incident, Pezzola can be seen wearing a shirt with the “Proud Boys” logo and smoking a cigar inside the Capitol.
“The smoke from the Capitol victory, boys,” he says in a video. “This is f ***** g amazing. I knew we could end this shit [if we] just tried enough. ”
Pezzola is a veteran of the US Marines, according to records obtained by CBS News. He is one of at least 15 military veterans who now face federal charges for alleged crimes during the attack on the US Capitol.
Acting United States Attorney Michael Sherwin said on Tuesday that prosecutors will begin to stop accusing easily identifiable “internet stars” who appeared in photos of the riot and instead begin to build cases of more complex conspiracies against militia groups that may have coordinated their actions while on the US Capitol.
Both Pezzola and Pepe face charges of conspiracy, civil unrest, illegal entry into restricted buildings or grounds, and disorderly and disturbing conduct in restricted buildings or areas, the government said. Pezzola faces additional charges that include obstructing an official process, additional charges of civil unrest, theft of US personal property and aggression, resistance or impediment by certain officials, the government said.
Prosecutors also indicted a man affiliated with the radical militia group the “Three percent”, as well as three suspected members of the anti-government militia the “Oath Keepers.” On Saturday, 175 people were indicted in connection with the Capitol riot, and 13 of them were also indicted by a grand jury.
Pepe and Pezzola were among the 14 people in the state of New York accused by federal prosecutors in connection with the riot. Pepe worked as a worker at the New York Metropolitan Transit Authority and took sick leave to travel to DC. Since then, he has been suspended from his job at the MTA.
Clare Hymes and Eleanor Watson contributed to the report.