Kelly Meggs

Last updated

Kelly Meggs
Kelly Meggs mug shot.jpg
2021 mugshot of Meggs
Born (1969-01-15) January 15, 1969 (age 54)
Organization Oath Keepers
Criminal status Incarcerated
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]

Contents

Oath Keepers activities

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

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dunnellon, Florida</span> City in Florida, United States

Dunnellon is a city in Marion County, Florida, United States. The population was 1,928 at the 2020 census, up from 1,733 in 2010. It is part of the Ocala Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Sedition is overt conduct, such as speech or organization, that tends toward rebellion against the established order. Sedition often includes subversion of a constitution and incitement of discontent toward, or insurrection against, established authority. Sedition may include any commotion, though not aimed at direct and open violence against the laws. Seditious words in writing are seditious libel. A seditionist is one who engages in or promotes the interest of sedition.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oath Keepers</span> American far-right organization since 2009

Oath Keepers is an American far-right anti-government militia whose leaders have been convicted of violently opposing the government of the United States, including the transfer of presidential power as prescribed by the United States constitution. It was incorporated in 2009 by founder Elmer Stewart Rhodes, a lawyer and former paratrooper. In 2023, Rhodes was sentenced to 18 years for seditious conspiracy for his role in the January 6 United States Capitol attack, and another Oath Keepers leader, Kelly Meggs, was sentenced to 12 years for the same crime. Three other members have pleaded guilty to this crime, and four other members have been convicted of it.

Seditious conspiracy is a crime in various jurisdictions of conspiring against the authority or legitimacy of the state. As a form of sedition, it has been described as a serious but lesser counterpart to treason, targeting activities that undermine the state without directly attacking it.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Criminal proceedings in the January 6 United States Capitol attack</span> List of people charged with crimes

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References

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  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.
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  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.