Third Member of Conspiracy Involving Proud Boys Members Arrested in Connection to Jan. 6 Capitol Breach

PRESS RELEASE Third Member of Conspiracy Involving Proud Boys Members Arrested in Connection to Jan. 6 Capitol Breach Friday, April 23, 2021 For Immediate Release U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Columbia Note: A full copy of the indictment can be viewed here. WASHINGTON – A third member of the Proud Boys was arrested on April 21 pursuant to a superseding indictment that charges him, along with two other members of the Proud Boys, with conspiracy and other offenses related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 that disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress in the process of affirming the presidential election. In addition to other crimes, all three men are charged with conspiracy to obstruct, influence, and impede an official proceeding and conspiracy to obstruct, influence, impede, and interfere with law enforcement officers engaged in their official duties in protecting the U.S. Capitol and its grounds on Jan. 6, 2021. Matthew Greene, 33, of Syracuse, New York, is named in a superseding indictment, along with two defendants who were charged in the prior indictment: Dominic Pezzola, 43, of Rochester, New York, and William Pepe, 31, of Beacon, New York, on charges that included conspiracy; civil disorder; unlawfully entering restricted buildings or grounds; and disorderly and disruptive conduct in restricted buildings or grounds. Greene made his initial appearance Wednesday in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York. Pepe and Pezzola were previously arrested on Jan. 12 and 15, respectively. According to the charging documents, all three are members of the Proud Boys, a group self- described as a “pro-Western fraternal organization for men who refuse to apologize for creating the modern world; aka Western Chauvinists.” As alleged, all three men conspired to coordinate their activities on Jan. 6 through various communication methods they had previously obtained, including programmable radios and encrypted messaging applications. They also intentionally dressed in clothing the concealed their membership as Proud Boys, and members of the group dismantled metal barriers used to protect the Capitol, before storming past them and breaking into the Capitol by damaging its windows. All three men are alleged to have assisted the crowd in further advancing to various secure sections of the Capitol. It is further alleged that Pezzola confronted a Capitol Police officer attempting to control the crowd and ripped away the officer’s riot shield, while the officer was physically engaging with individuals who had gathered unlawfully in the west plaza of the Capitol. Pezzola later used the riot shield to smash a window at the U.S. Capitol. The case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices for the Northern, Western, and Southern Districts of New York. The case is being investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office, as well as the Metropolitan Police Department, with assistance by the FBI’s Buffalo, Albany, and New York Field Offices. Anyone with tips can call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or visit tips.fbi.gov. The charges contained in the complaint are allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.