Federal prosecutors on Thursday unsealed charges against five people associated with the Proud Boys over the Capitol riot, alleging that the group conspired and coordinated with each other to try to disrupt the certification of the Electoral College votes.
All five were arrested on Thursday, according to court documents released by the Justice Department. William Chrestman, Christopher Kuehne and Louis Enrique Colon were arrested in Missouri, while siblings Cory and Felicia Konold were taken into custody in Arizona.
All five face charges including conspiracy, unlawful entry, disorder and obstruction of an official proceeding, which carries a maximum possible sentence of 20 years in prison.
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Chrestman also faces charges of threatening a law enforcement officer and carrying a dangerous weapon while involved in the alleged obstruction.
It’s unclear if any of the defendants have hired lawyers. None of them could immediately be reached for comment.
According to an FBI affidavit, group members were coordinating their movements while inside the Capitol on Jan. 6 and wore tactical gear during the riot.
The affidavit alleges that Chrestman could be seen in footage yelling at officers guarding the Capitol, “You shoot and I’ll take your f—ing ass out.” Chrestman could also be seen carrying a wooden club or axe handle that had been disguised with a flag, according to court documents.
Investigators had identified the five defendants among a large group of Proud Boys marching together shortly before the riot. At least three other members have been charged in recent weeks.
The Proud Boys are a right-wing group, described by the FBI as a nationalist organization, that has been involved in numerous violent clashes at demonstrations around the country. Prosecutors have accused the group of leading much of the mayhem that took place at the Capitol last month and charged several of its members, including Enrique Tarrio, who leads the organization and was arrested two days before the riot for possessing high-capacity magazines for rifles.
The five who were arrested on Thursday are the largest group of alleged Capitol rioters to be charged as codefendants.
–Updated at 2:34 p.m.