Kelly Meggs
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2023}}
{{Short description|Member of the Oath Keepers (born 1969)}}
{{Not to be confused with|Kelly Meigs|text=politician Kelly Meigs}}
{{Infobox criminal
| name = Kelly Meggs
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1969|1|15}}
| caption = 2021 mugshot of Meggs
| organization = Oath Keepers
| conviction_status = Released
| criminal_penalty = 12 years imprisonment
| image = File:Kelly Meggs mug shot.jpg
| conviction = Seditious conspiracy (18 U.S.C. § 2384)
Obstructing an official proceeding (18 U.S.C. § 1512)
Conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding (18 U.S.C. § 1512)
Conspiracy to prevent an officer from discharging their duties (18 U.S.C. § 372)
Tampering with documents and proceedings (18 U.S.C. § 1512)
| notable_works = Fight, Fight, Fight
One Question Remains
}}
Kelly Meggs (born January 15, 1969) is an American convicted felon who previously led the Oath Keepers' Florida chapter.{{Cite web |date=March 3, 2021 |title=Best search engine for True crime stories {{!}} Mugshots.com |url=https://mugshots.com/US-States/Florida/Seminole-County-FL/Kelly-Meggs.185239807.html |access-date=November 30, 2022 |website=mugshots.com |language=en-US |archive-date=November 30, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221130143801/https://mugshots.com/US-States/Florida/Seminole-County-FL/Kelly-Meggs.185239807.html |url-status=live }} He was found guilty of seditious conspiracy following his forced entry into the United States Capitol during the January 6 United States Capitol attack.{{cite web |last1=Sandoval |first1=Erik |title=Central Florida Oath Keepers leader faces sentencing in May |url=https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2023/02/02/central-florida-oath-keepers-leader-faces-sentencing-in-may/ |website=WKMG |access-date=March 22, 2023 |language=en |date=February 2, 2023 |archive-date=February 13, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230213122617/https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2023/02/02/central-florida-oath-keepers-leader-faces-sentencing-in-may/ |url-status=live }} Meggs was sentenced to 12 years in prison.{{Cite web |last=Boboltz |first=Sara |date=May 25, 2023 |title=Oath Keepers Founder Sentenced For Seditious Conspiracy Over Jan. 6 Capitol Riot |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/oath-keeper-sentenced-capitol-riot_n_646e7bffe4b0047ed779251d |access-date=May 25, 2023 |website=HuffPost |language=en}} Hours after his inauguration on 20 January 2025, Donald Trump commuted his sentence to time served.{{Cite web |last=Ingle |first=Davis |date=2025-01-21 |title=GRANTING PARDONS AND COMMUTATION OF SENTENCES FOR CERTAIN OFFENSES RELATING TO THE EVENTS AT OR NEAR THE UNITED STATES CAPITOL ON JANUARY 6, 2021 |url=https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/granting-pardons-and-commutation-of-sentences-for-certain-offenses-relating-to-the-events-at-or-near-the-united-states-capitol-on-january-6-2021/ |access-date=2025-01-21 |website=The White House |language=en-US}} On January 24, 2025, he and seven others Oath Keepers were forbidden by the D.C. District Court from entering Washington D.C or the grounds of the Capitol without the permission of the court order. {{Cite web |last=Cole |first=Devan |date=2025-01-24 |title=Judge bars Oath Keepers released from prison by Trump from entering DC or US Capitol grounds without permission {{!}} CNN Politics |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2025/01/24/politics/oath-keepers-barred-from-entering-dc-us-capitol-grounds/index.html |access-date=2025-01-25 |website=CNN |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2025-01-24 |title=Office of Public Affairs {{!}} Court Sentences Two Oath Keepers Leaders on Seditious Conspiracy and Other Charges Related to U.S. Capitol Breach {{!}} United States Department of Justice |url=https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/court-sentences-two-oath-keepers-leaders-seditious-conspiracy-and-other-charges-related-us |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250124112854/https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/court-sentences-two-oath-keepers-leaders-seditious-conspiracy-and-other-charges-related-us |url-status=dead |archive-date=2025-01-24 |access-date=2025-01-25 }}
Oath Keepers activities
{{main|Planning of the January 6 United States Capitol attack#Oath Keepers}}
{{2021 United States Capitol attack|expanded=List}}Meggs was the leader of the Florida chapter of the alt-right and anti-government Oath Keepers organization.{{Cite web |last=Reilly |first=Ryan J. |last2=Barnes |first2=Daniel |date=November 29, 2022 |title=Two Oath Keepers, including founder, found guilty of seditious conspiracy in Jan. 6 case |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/justice-department/oath-keepers-verdict-seditious-conspiracy-trial-rcna58415 |access-date=November 30, 2022 |website=NBC News |language=en |archive-date=November 29, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221129235043/https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/justice-department/oath-keepers-verdict-seditious-conspiracy-trial-rcna58415 |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Rabinowitz |first=Hannah |last2=Lybrand |first2=Holmes |date=November 29, 2022 |title=Key things to know about the 5 defendants |url=https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/oath-keepers-trial-verdict/h_39d5b0e0f054a4e201d738e9385499f3 |access-date=November 30, 2022 |website=CNN |language=en |quote=Kelly Meggs, 53, is a leader of the Oath Keepers’ Florida chapter and, according to the government, led the infamous “stack” formation of Oath Keepers inside the Capitol on January 6. |archive-date=November 30, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221130000246/https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/oath-keepers-trial-verdict/h_39d5b0e0f054a4e201d738e9385499f3 |url-status=live }}
Prior to the riot, Meggs discussed a partnership with the Proud Boys and the anti-government organization the Three Percenters; he posted a declaration of these intentions on Facebook.{{Cite web |date=April 28, 2021 |title=Feds: Oath Keeper coordinated with Proud Boys before riot |url=https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-capitol-siege-us-news-ff301fa1f3a4edadcaee492f1934961f |access-date=November 30, 2022 |website=AP NEWS |language=en |archive-date=November 30, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221130061203/https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-capitol-siege-us-news-ff301fa1f3a4edadcaee492f1934961f |url-status=live }}
Meggs entered the United States Capitol during the January 6 United States Capitol attack.{{Cite news |date=November 29, 2022 |title=Oath Keepers: Two members of far-right militia guilty of US sedition |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-63802649 |access-date=November 30, 2022 |archive-date=November 29, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221129235445/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-63802649 |url-status=live }} He led the infamous "stack" formation of Oath Keepers inside the Capitol.{{cite web |title=Stewart Rhodes and top lieutenant convicted of seditious conspiracy in Oath Keepers trial |url=https://www.wusa9.com/article/news/national/capitol-riots/oath-keepers-founder-stewart-rhodes-kelly-meggs-found-guilty-of-seditious-conspiracy/65-c72e680d-eaa2-4c71-8c04-f4b416d7cecd |website=wusa9.com |access-date=March 22, 2023 |date=November 29, 2022 |archive-date=February 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230216222449/https://www.wusa9.com/article/news/national/capitol-riots/oath-keepers-founder-stewart-rhodes-kelly-meggs-found-guilty-of-seditious-conspiracy/65-c72e680d-eaa2-4c71-8c04-f4b416d7cecd |url-status=live }}
=Seditious conspiracy trial=
Meggs was arrested on February 17, 2021.{{Cite web |last=Thompson |first=Buster |date=June 1, 2021 |title=Latest indictment adds charge to Dunnellon man accused alongside wife in Capitol attack |url=https://www.chronicleonline.com/news/crime_and_courts/latest-indictment-adds-charge-to-dunnellon-man-accused-alongside-wife-in-capitol-attack/article_97a84f8e-c309-11eb-b6a6-1b17eb725041.html |access-date=November 30, 2022 |website=Chronicle Online |language=en |archive-date=November 30, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221130061153/https://www.chronicleonline.com/news/crime_and_courts/latest-indictment-adds-charge-to-dunnellon-man-accused-alongside-wife-in-capitol-attack/article_97a84f8e-c309-11eb-b6a6-1b17eb725041.html |url-status=live }} He was held in Grady County, Oklahoma, before being transferred to Washington, D.C. for his trial.{{Cite web |title=Marion Woman Charged in US Capitol Riot "Languishing" in Orlando Jail |url=https://www.mynews13.com/fl/orlando/news/2021/03/10/marion-woman-charged-in-us-capitol-riot--languishing--in-orlando-jail |access-date=November 30, 2022 |website=www.mynews13.com |language=en |archive-date=November 30, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221130061154/https://www.mynews13.com/fl/orlando/news/2021/03/10/marion-woman-charged-in-us-capitol-riot--languishing--in-orlando-jail |url-status=live }} The court case included Stewart Rhodes as co-defendant.
During the trial, prosecutors highlighted texts between Meggs and his wife on Election Night 2020, in which Meggs declared "I’m gonna go on a killing spree... Pelosi first."{{cite web |last1=Sarnoff |first1=Marisa |title='I'm Gonna Go on a Killing Spree': FBI Agent Reveals Oath Keepers' Chilling Messages at Seditious Conspiracy Trial |url=https://lawandcrime.com/oath-keepers-jan-6-trial/im-gonna-go-on-a-killing-spree-fbi-agent-reveals-oath-keepers-chilling-messages-at-seditious-conspiracy-trial/ |website=Law & Crime |access-date=March 22, 2023 |language=en |date=October 4, 2022 |archive-date=December 30, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221230090854/https://lawandcrime.com/oath-keepers-jan-6-trial/im-gonna-go-on-a-killing-spree-fbi-agent-reveals-oath-keepers-chilling-messages-at-seditious-conspiracy-trial/ |url-status=live }}
Meggs was represented at trial by lawyer Stanley Woodward.{{Cite web|url=https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2023/05/08/feds-seek-long-prison-sentences-for-central-florida-oath-keepers-in-capitol-riot-case/|title=Feds seek long prison sentences for Central Florida Oath Keepers in Capitol riot case|first=Erik|last=Sandoval|date=May 8, 2023|website=WKMG}} On November 29, 2022, Meggs was found guilty of seditious conspiracy and "conspiracy to prevent an officer from discharging their official duties".
On May 25, 2023, he was sentenced to 12 years in prison. Meggs will be on supervised release for three years after his prison sentence.{{cite web|url=https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/pr/court-sentences-two-oath-keepers-leaders-18-years-prison-seditious-conspiracy-and-other|title=Court Sentences Two Oath Keepers Leaders to 18 Years in Prison on Seditious Conspiracy and Other Charges Related to U.S. Capitol Breach|publisher=United States Attorney for the District of Columbia|date=May 25, 2023}}
Meggs was released on January 21st, 2025 after receiving a commutation by President Donald Trump, but January 24, 2025 Meggs and seven others Oath Keepers were forbidden by the D.C. District Court from entering Washington D.C or the grounds of the Capitol without the permission of the court order. {{Cite web |last=Cole |first=Devan |date=2025-01-24 |title=Judge bars Oath Keepers released from prison by Trump from entering DC or US Capitol grounds without permission {{!}} CNN Politics |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2025/01/24/politics/oath-keepers-barred-from-entering-dc-us-capitol-grounds/index.html |access-date=2025-01-25 |website=CNN |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2025-01-24 |title=Office of Public Affairs {{!}} Court Sentences Two Oath Keepers Leaders on Seditious Conspiracy and Other Charges Related to U.S. Capitol Breach {{!}} United States Department of Justice |url=https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/court-sentences-two-oath-keepers-leaders-seditious-conspiracy-and-other-charges-related-us |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250124112854/https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/court-sentences-two-oath-keepers-leaders-seditious-conspiracy-and-other-charges-related-us |url-status=dead |archive-date=2025-01-24 |access-date=2025-01-25 }}
Personal life
Prior to his incarceration, Meggs lived in Dunnellon, Florida, with his wife, Connie Meggs.{{Cite web |date=November 30, 2022 |title=Bay area Oath Keeper Kelly Meggs found guilty of seditious conspiracy, faces up to 20 years in prison |url=https://www.wfla.com/8-on-your-side/investigations/bay-area-oath-keeper-kelly-meggs-found-guilty-of-seditious-conspiracy-faces-up-to-20-years-in-prison/ |access-date=November 30, 2022 |website=WFLA |language=en-US |archive-date=November 30, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221130003711/https://www.wfla.com/8-on-your-side/investigations/bay-area-oath-keeper-kelly-meggs-found-guilty-of-seditious-conspiracy-faces-up-to-20-years-in-prison/ |url-status=live }} Connie Meggs was found guilty in March 2023 of conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding and other felony charges.{{cite web |last1=Kunzelman |first1=Michael |last2=Richer |first2=Alanna Durkin |title=Dunnellon woman guilty of conspiracy in latest Oath Keepers Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol trial |url=https://www.ocala.com/story/news/local/2023/03/21/connie-meggs-of-dunnellon-found-guilty-in-u-s-capitol-riot-case/70032408007/ |website=The Star Banner |access-date=March 22, 2023 |date=March 21, 2023 |archive-date=March 21, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230321200059/https://www.ocala.com/story/news/local/2023/03/21/connie-meggs-of-dunnellon-found-guilty-in-u-s-capitol-riot-case/70032408007/ |url-status=live }} At her sentencing hearing, Connie Meggs accused her husband of destroying their family.{{Cite web |last=Fischer |first=Jordan |date=August 30, 2023 |title='My husband destroyed this family': Wife of Florida Oath Keepers leader gets 15 months in prison |url=https://www.wusa9.com/article/news/national/capitol-riots/wife-of-florida-oath-keepers-leader-says-husband-destroyed-their-family-at-her-own-sentencing-connie-meggs-kelly-stewart-rhodes-stanley-woodward/65-606a9db7-f7c7-448a-8574-06c753c70a59 |access-date=2023-09-06 |website=wusa9.com |language=en-US}}
See also
References
{{reflist}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Meggs, Kelly}}
Category:American people convicted of seditious conspiracy
Category:Convicted participants in the January 6 United States Capitol attack
Category:Members of the Oath Keepers