A Texas man was arrested Tuesday and charged in connection to the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot after his ex-girlfriend and different nameless tipsters recognized him to the FBI.
Geoffrey Shough, 37, is going through civil dysfunction and different associated fees, based on the U.S. Division of Justice. He was allegedly one of many first few folks to breach a line of Capitol Police and cross into the constructing. Although it has been greater than a 12 months for the reason that riot, arrests similar to Shough's proceed as extra Capitol rioters are recognized.
A person authorities imagine to be Shough was captured on video on the day of the riot waving a Texas flag whereas sporting a "ballistic-style" helmet, in addition to goggles, hard-knuckle gloves and what seemed to be a physique armor vest beneath his jacket, court docket paperwork say.
In March 2021, shortly after the FBI launched pictures of the person, a person referred to within the court docket paperwork as Tipster 1 got here ahead, saying whereas they didn't personally know Shough, they had been submitting the tip on behalf of one other particular person, known as Tipster 2, who had met him a number of occasions. Tipster 1 offered the FBI with the contact info for Tipster 2 and Shough's former girlfriend, recognized within the paperwork as L.T.
The FBI interviewed L.T. in Could 2021. She instructed the investigators she and Shough had damaged up the week earlier than and that he had gone to see associates in Washington, D.C., on the time of the riot. She additionally mentioned she acknowledged the jacket he was sporting within the pictures and that she was "pretty sure" it was him primarily based on a picture of the person with out the helmet on, the court docket paperwork added.
Investigators additionally regarded into Shough's monetary information and located that he had bought a Texas flag that appears the identical because the one within the photos from the Capitol, the paperwork mentioned. The information additionally confirmed he made a $129.99 fee to the Oath Keepers—a far-right anti-government group that claims to be defending the U.S. Structure. In response to the Justice Division, the founder and chief of the Oath Keepers was amongst a gaggle of 11 folks charged earlier this 12 months with seditious conspiracy and different offenses associated to the riot.
The U.S. Legal professional's Workplace for the District of Columbia and the Division of Justice Nationwide Safety Division's Counterterrorism Part will likely be prosecuting the case in opposition to Shough. In response to FindLaw, an individual convicted of civil dysfunction fees can withstand 5 years in federal jail and be fined as much as $10,000.
"Within the 13 months since January 6, greater than 750 people have been arrested in almost all 50 states for crimes associated to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, together with over 235 people charged with assaulting or impeding regulation enforcement," the Justice Division wrote in its launch. "The investigation stays ongoing."
Replace 03/01/22 5:45 p.m. ET: This story was up to date so as to add extra info.
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