Source: United States Department of Justice
Defendants Part of Military Stack Formation That Marched up the Steps of the Capitol Building
WASHINGTON – Four members of the Oath Keepers were sentenced this week for their roles in the breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Their actions and the actions of others disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress that was in the process of ascertaining and counting the electoral votes related to the 2020 presidential election.
Connie Meggs, 60, of Dunnellon, Florida, was sentenced to 15 months in prison and 36 months of supervised release.
William Isaacs, 23, of Kissimmee, Florida, and Sandra, 63, and Bennie Parker, 72, both of Morrow, Ohio, were each sentenced to 60 months of probation.
In March of 2023, a federal jury convicted Meggs, Isaacs, and both Parkers of conspiring to obstruct an official proceeding, a felony. Sandra Parker, Meggs, Steele, and Isaacs were also convicted of obstruction of an official proceeding, conspiring to prevent an officer of the United States from discharging a duty and destruction of government property, all felonies.
According to court documents and evidence presented during the trial, on the afternoon of January 6, when it became clear that Congress was going forward with the certification of the 2020 presidential election, the five defendants donned paramilitary gear and clothing and marched with other Oath Keeper members and affiliates to the United States Capitol. When the group arrived on the Capitol grounds, a leader of the group—Kelly Meggs—announced that they were going inside the Capitol to try to stop the vote count. In response, defendants Sandra Parker, Connie Meggs, and William Isaacs joined hands on the shoulder with eight other members of their group and moved, in a coordinated and calculated fashion, up the steps of the Capitol in a military “stack” formation.
At the top of the steps, the group joined the mob of other rioters who had overcome officers guarding the door. Once inside, the group split up. Half the group, including Connie Meggs, headed toward the House of Representatives. The other half of the group—including Sandra Parker and Isaacs, joined rioters who were trying to push their way through a line of Metropolitan Police Department officers guarding a hallway that led to the Senate Chamber. The officers were forced to deploy chemical spray to hold back the mob. Defendants Sandra Parker and Isaacs then retreated, regrouped, exited the Capitol, and met up with the other Oath Keepers.
Meanwhile, Defendant Bennie Parker had waited outside the Capitol, where he explained to a foreign journalist that the riot was the result of American anger over the “stolen” election and ominously warned that “it will come to a civil war” and that many Americans were “willing to take up arms.” Bennie and Sandra Parker were among those Americans, having brought their firearms from Ohio for the events of January 6 at the direction of Ohio Oath Keepers leader Jessica Watkins
Connie Meggs and her husband, Kelly Meggs, traveled from Florida to a hotel in Arlington, Virginia, with several weapons that were later deposited at the hotel.
On January 6th, Oath Keepers leader Elmer Stewart Rhodes III, who was convicted in an earlier trial of seditious conspiracy and related charges, sent a message on an encrypted group chat announcing that Vice President Michael R. Pence would not intercede to stop Congress’ certification of the electoral college vote, and so “patriots” were taking matters into their own hands. Moments later, a group of Oath Keepers, including these five defendants, began their march toward the Capitol.
The case was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia with assistance provided by the Justice Department’s National Security Division. Valuable assistance was provided by U.S. Attorney’s Offices throughout the country.
The case was investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office, Cincinnati Field Office, Charlotte Field Office, Jacksonville Field Office, and Tampa Field. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department.
In the 31 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,106 individuals have been arrested in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including more than 350 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement.
Anyone with tips can call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or visit tips.fbi.gov
