Kelly Meggs
2021 mugshot of Meggs
Born (1969-01-15) January 15, 1969 (age 55)
OrganizationOath Keepers
Criminal statusIncarcerated
Conviction(s)Seditious conspiracy (18 U.S.C. § 2384)
Obstructing an official proceeding (18 U.S.C. § 1512)
Conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding (18 U.S.C. § 1512)
Conspiracy to prevent an officer from discharging their duties (18 U.S.C. § 372)
Tampering with documents and proceedings (18 U.S.C. § 1512)
Criminal penalty12 years imprisonment

Kelly Meggs (born January 15, 1969) is an American convicted felon who previously led the Oath Keepers' Florida chapter.[1] He was found guilty of seditious conspiracy following his forced entry into the United States Capitol during the January 6 United States Capitol attack.[2] Meggs was sentenced to 12 years in prison.[3]

Oath Keepers activities

Main article: Planning of the January 6 United States Capitol attack § Oath Keepers
January 6 United
States Capitol attack
A crowd of attackers amid a cloud of tear gas outside the Capitol (top), and an attacker inside the Capitol throws a metal trash can at a police officer (bottom)
Timeline • Planning
Background
2020 presidential election
and other causes
Related groups and persons
Participants
Notable people
Organizations
Law enforcement response
Aftermath
Biden inauguration
Investigations and charges
Corporate actions
Reactions
Impeachment and 2024 presidential election

Meggs was the leader of the Florida chapter of the alt-right and anti-government Oath Keepers organization.[4][5]

Prior to the riot, Meggs discussed a partnership with the Proud Boys and the anti-government organisation the Three Percenters; he posted a declaration of these intentions on Facebook.[6]

Meggs entered the United States Capitol during the January 6 United States Capitol attack.[7] He led the infamous "stack" formation of Oath Keepers inside the Capitol.[8]

Seditious conspiracy trial

Meggs was arrested on February 17, 2021.[9] He was held in Grady County, Oklahoma, before being transferred to Washington D.C. for his trial.[10] The court case included Stewart Rhodes as co-defendant.

During the trial, prosecutors highlighted texts between Meggs and his wife on Election Night 2020, in which Meggs declared "I’m gonna go on a killing spree... [House Speaker Nancy Pelosi] first."[11]

Meggs was represented at trial by lawyer Stanley Woodward.[12] On November 29, 2022, Meggs was found guilty of seditious conspiracy and "conspiracy to prevent an officer from discharging their official duties".[7][4]

On May 25, 2023, he was sentenced to 12 years in prison.[3] Meggs will be on supervised release for three years after his prison sentence.[13]

Personal life

Prior to his incarceration, Meggs lived in Dunnellon, Florida, with his wife, Connie Meggs.[14] Connie Meggs was found guilty in March 2023 of conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding and other felony charges.[15] At her sentencing hearing, Connie Meggs accused her husband of destroying their family.[16]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Best search engine for True crime stories | Mugshots.com". mugshots.com. March 3, 2021. Archived from the original on November 30, 2022. Retrieved November 30, 2022.
  2. ^ Sandoval, Erik (February 2, 2023). "Central Florida Oath Keepers leader faces sentencing in May". WKMG. Archived from the original on February 13, 2023. Retrieved March 22, 2023.
  3. ^ a b Boboltz, Sara (May 25, 2023). "Oath Keepers Founder Sentenced For Seditious Conspiracy Over Jan. 6 Capitol Riot". HuffPost. Retrieved May 25, 2023.
  4. ^ a b Reilly, Ryan J.; Barnes, Daniel (November 29, 2022). "Two Oath Keepers, including founder, found guilty of seditious conspiracy in Jan. 6 case". NBC News. Archived from the original on November 29, 2022. Retrieved November 30, 2022.
  5. ^ Rabinowitz, Hannah; Lybrand, Holmes (November 29, 2022). "Key things to know about the 5 defendants". CNN. Archived from the original on November 30, 2022. Retrieved November 30, 2022. Kelly Meggs, 53, is a leader of the Oath Keepers' Florida chapter and, according to the government, led the infamous "stack" formation of Oath Keepers inside the Capitol on January 6.
  6. ^ "Feds: Oath Keeper coordinated with Proud Boys before riot". AP NEWS. April 28, 2021. Archived from the original on November 30, 2022. Retrieved November 30, 2022.
  7. ^ a b "Oath Keepers: Two members of far-right militia guilty of US sedition". BBC News. November 29, 2022. Archived from the original on November 29, 2022. Retrieved November 30, 2022.
  8. ^ "Stewart Rhodes and top lieutenant convicted of seditious conspiracy in Oath Keepers trial". wusa9.com. November 29, 2022. Archived from the original on February 16, 2023. Retrieved March 22, 2023.
  9. ^ Thompson, Buster (June 1, 2021). "Latest indictment adds charge to Dunnellon man accused alongside wife in Capitol attack". Chronicle Online. Archived from the original on November 30, 2022. Retrieved November 30, 2022.
  10. ^ "Marion Woman Charged in US Capitol Riot "Languishing" in Orlando Jail". www.mynews13.com. Archived from the original on November 30, 2022. Retrieved November 30, 2022.
  11. ^ Sarnoff, Marisa (October 4, 2022). "'I'm Gonna Go on a Killing Spree': FBI Agent Reveals Oath Keepers' Chilling Messages at Seditious Conspiracy Trial". Law & Crime. Archived from the original on December 30, 2022. Retrieved March 22, 2023.
  12. ^ Sandoval, Erik (May 8, 2023). "Feds seek long prison sentences for Central Florida Oath Keepers in Capitol riot case". WKMG.
  13. ^ "Court Sentences Two Oath Keepers Leaders to 18 Years in Prison on Seditious Conspiracy and Other Charges Related to U.S. Capitol Breach". United States Attorney for the District of Columbia. May 25, 2023.
  14. ^ "Bay area Oath Keeper Kelly Meggs found guilty of seditious conspiracy, faces up to 20 years in prison". WFLA. November 30, 2022. Archived from the original on November 30, 2022. Retrieved November 30, 2022.
  15. ^ Kunzelman, Michael; Richer, Alanna Durkin (March 21, 2023). "Dunnellon woman guilty of conspiracy in latest Oath Keepers Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol trial". The Star Banner. Archived from the original on March 21, 2023. Retrieved March 22, 2023.
  16. ^ Fischer, Jordan (August 30, 2023). "'My husband destroyed this family': Wife of Florida Oath Keepers leader gets 15 months in prison". wusa9.com. Retrieved September 6, 2023.
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