Englewood man arrested for Capitol riot, conspiring to obstruct election certification

This week, six additional people associated with an organization known as the Oath Keepers, some of whose members were among those who forcibly entered the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, were arrested and charged in federal court for conspiring to obstruct the U.S. Congress’s certification of the result of the 2020 U.S. Presidential Election, among other charges.

Graydon Young, 54, of Englewood, Florida, was arrested on Monday in Tampa. Federal officials say Young is affiliated with the Oath Keepers Militia Organization and forcibly entered the Capitol building.

Also arrested were Kelly Meggs, 52, and Connie Meggs, 59, both of Dunnellon, Florida, on Wednesday in Ocala, Florida. Laura Steele, 52, of Thomasville, North Carolina, was arrested on Wednesday in Greensboro, North Carolina; and Sandra Ruth Parker, 62, and Bennie Alvin Parker, 70, both of Morrow, Ohio, were arrested yesterday.

These six individuals were added as co-defendants to a superseding indictment filed today in United States v. Thomas Caldwell, Donovan Crowl, and Jessica Watkins, 21-cr-28-APM. The superseding indictment alleges that Kelly and Connie Meggs, Young, Steele, and Sandra Parker donned paramilitary gear and joined with Watkins and Crowl in a military-style “stack” formation that marched up the center steps on the east side of the U.S. Capitol, breached the door at the top, and then stormed the building. The indictment charges all nine defendants with one count of conspiring to commit an offense against the United States, in violation of Title 18, U.S. Code Section 371, that is, to corruptly obstruct, influence, or impede an official proceeding, in violation of Title 18, U.S. Code Section 1512(c)(2); one count of depredation against federal government property, in violation of Title 18, U.S. Code Section 1361; and unlawful entry, disorderly conduct, or violent conduct in restricted buildings or grounds, in violation of Title 18, U.S. Code Section 1752(a). The indictment also charges Bennie Parker and Caldwell with obstructing the investigation in violation of Title 18, U.S. Code Section 1512(c)(1).

MORE: Search list of defendants charged for crimes committed at the U.S. Capitol 

According to the superseding indictment, Kelly Meggs is the self-described leader of the Florida chapter of the Oath Keepers, of which Connie Meggs, Young, and Steele also are alleged to be members. In late December, the indictment alleges, Kelly Meggs wrote in a Facebook message, “Trump said It’s gonna be wild!!!!!!! It’s gonna be wild!!!!!!! He wants us to make it WILD that’s what he’s saying. He called us all to the Capitol and wants us to make it wild!!! Sir Yes Sir!!! Gentlemen we are heading to DC pack your s***!!” He went on to state, “[W]e will have at least 50-100 OK there.” According to the indictment, around the same time, Young allegedly arranged, for himself and others, training by a Florida company that provides firearms and combat training.

WINK News Safety and Security Specialist Rich Kolko. “The FBI has received, I believe, over 200,000 leads already in this investigation. There’s just people that know and recognize the people that were in the capital. And they’re picking up the phone, making that call to the FBI, or submitting a lead anonymously online.”

Officials say that Graydon and the people he was with climbed the Capitol steps in tactical formation used by infantrymen in the military.

WINK News Anchor Justin Kase went to the Englewood neighborhood where Young lived and was confronted by neighbors yelling and telling him to leave.  The man who came out of the home did not want to speak.

WINK News Safety and Security Specialist acknowledges how many o those who stormed the Capitol are being caught. “The way a lot of these people are being caught is from all the video and social media evidence that is out there,” said Kolko.

Court documents also point out the formations or Stacks, Young and other members used to stay together. Kolko says law enforcement will now work to find out what their true goals were after entering the building.

“Once law enforcement arrests these people, has the opportunity to do the actual forensic analysis on their digital devices, conduct interviews, they’ll have a better idea of what their real purpose was once they entered the Capitol,” said Kolko.

The indictment alleges that Sandra and Bennie Parker traveled with Watkins and Crowl from Ohio to Washington, D.C. In the lead-up to the attack on the U.S. Capitol, Bennie Parker allegedly communicated extensively with Watkins about potentially joining her militia and combining forces for the events of January 6.

The superseding indictment alleges that, in making plans for the events of January 6, Kelly Meggs made statements, similar to those made by Watkins and Caldwell, that his group would not need to be armed for the attack on the U.S. Capitol, because there would be a “heavy QRF 10 Min out[.]” The abbreviation “QRF” is alleged to refer to “quick reaction force,” a term used by law enforcement and the military to refer to an armed unit capable of rapidly responding to developing situations, typically to assist allied units in need of such assistance.

MORE: Search the FBI Most Wanted list for suspects in the Capitol riot

The superseding indictment adds charges that, in the aftermath of the attack on the U.S. Capitol, Caldwell and Young tampered with documents or proceedings by unsending and deleting Facebook content.

The case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Counterterrorism Section of the Justice Department’s National Security Division with assistance from the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Middle District of Florida, the Middle District of North Carolina, and the Southern District of Ohio. The superseding indictment is the result of an ongoing investigation by the FBI’s Washington Field Office, Jacksonville Field Office, Tampa Field Office, Charlotte Field Office, and Cincinnati Field Office.

An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence of guilt. A defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

The FBI is looking for individuals who may have incited or promoted violence of any kind. Anyone with digital material or tips can call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or submit images or videos at www.tips.fbi.gov.