A New York Man pleaded Guilty Wednesday, to Storming the U.S. Capitol with Fellow Members of the far-right Proud Boys, a Milestone in the Justice Department’s Prosecution of Extremists who joined the Jan. 6 Insurrection.
Matthew Greene is the First Proud Boys Member, to Publicly plead Guilty to conspiring with other Members to Stop Congress from Certifying the Electoral College Vote. He will also Cooperate with Authorities under the Terms of his Plea Agreement.
Greene was Arrested in April, after a Grand Jury Indicted him in the same Case, as Two other alleged Proud Boys, Dominic Pezzola and William Pepe. They have pleaded Not Guilty.
Greene traveled from Syracuse, New York, to Washington, D.C., with Pezzola and other Proud Boys on Jan. 5. Prosecutors allege Greene advanced past toppled Police Barricades and was at the Front of a Mob when Police began using Pepper Spray and other Crowd-control Measures, but Prosecutors have said they don’t have any Evidence that Greene entered the Capitol Building that day.
“After the riot, (Greene) engaged in conversations (on) encrypted messaging platforms admitting to his role in the riot, encouraging others not to give up in a fight to take back their country, and comparing the situation as it existed in the weeks following January 6 to a fourth-generation war,” Prosecutors wrote in a June Court Filing.
More than Three Dozen People, charged in the Capitol Siege have been identified by Federal Authorities, as Proud Boys Leaders, Members, or Associates, including at least 16 Defendants Charged with Conspiracy.
In a Key Case, Four Group Leaders were Charged in March, with Conspiring to impede Congress’ Certification of President Biden’s Electoral Victory.
Greene is expected to face a Maximum of Over Four years in Prison, at a Sentencing set for March, 2022, and Pay a Fine of $15,000 to $150,000, along with about $2,000 in Restitution. He pleaded Guilty to Federal Charges of Conspiracy and Obstruction of an Official Proceeding.
Graydon Young, 55, of Englewood, Florida, was the First Defendant to Plead Guilty, in the Justice Department’s Major Conspiracy Case against Oath Keepers Members. At least Four others, Linked to the Oath Keepers, also have Pleaded Guilty to Riot-related Charges.
On the Morning of Jan. 6, Proud Boys Members met at the Washington Monument and Marched to the Capitol, before Trump finished addressing Thousands of Supporters near the White House.
Around Two hours later, just before Congress convened a Joint Session to Certify the Election Results, a Group of Proud Boys followed a Crowd of People who breached Barriers at a Pedestrian Entrance to the Capitol Grounds, according to One of the Indictments. Several Proud Boys also entered the Capitol itself after the Mob smashed Windows and forced Open Doors, the Indictment says. This Group also Violated the Rally Permit.
Greene was wearing an Earpiece connected to a handheld Radio, according to Prosecutors. They said the Proud Boys arranged for Members to communicate using Specific Frequencies on Baofeng Radios. The Chinese-made Devices can be Programmed for use on Hundreds of Frequencies, making them difficult for Outsiders to Eavesdrop.
In August, U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly ordered Greene held in Pretrial Detention.
Prosecutors said in June that Greene, who served in the Army National Guard, “was willing to put lessons learned in that military service to use” against the U.S. They noted that Greene had a Pistol and an Unregistered AR-15 Rifle in his Home, and that he had Ordered over 2,000 rounds of Ammunition and a Gas Mask after Jan. 6. “He encouraged an associate to read up on guerrilla warfare and to use the tactics used by the Taliban and to ‘be prepared to do uncomfortable things,’” Prosecutors wrote.
More than 700 People have been Charged with federal Crimes related to the Riot. Over 150 of them have pleaded Guilty, including at least Two other Defendants with Proud Boys ties.
Andrew Bennett, a Maryland Man whom Prosecutors described as a Proud Boys “Admirer” but Not a Group Member, pleaded Guilty to a Misdemeanor Offense and was Sentenced in October to Three Months of Home Detention.
NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker
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