Several alleged members of far-right Proud Boys were arrested Thursday for conspiracy and other charges for their alleged involvement in the U.S. Capitol uprising, while prosecutors remain at home with far-right groups and examine what planning could have taken place in the attack.
Kansas resident William Chrestman and four others were arrested in Missouri and Arizona, authorities said, describing in two allegations that the five people coordinated their efforts to advance together on the Capitol precinct, dressed in tactical gears carrying strips of orange tape.
According to several friends and former classmates of Mr. Chrestman, grew up in California, developing more radical views in recent years. They said that before deleting his Facebook page he posted conspiracy theories about vaccines and QAnon and participated in heated online debates.
Sworn statements for the arrest of the five people said they marched in groups with other known members of the Proud Boys, which describes itself as an organization for “Western sexists.” Several of these members have previously been arrested on similar charges and, according to affidavits, worked to prevent law enforcement from securing the area.
Since the January 6 riots, more than 200 participants have been arrested on charges ranging from illegal entry of a restricted building to assaulting federal officers. Prosecutors have also focused more specifically on alleged members of the proud boys and various militia groups, including sworn guardians, building cases accusing small subsets of the larger riot group of coordinating their actions and planning the attack. in advance.