Westchester Proud Boy Guilty Of Felony During Jan. 6 Capitol Riot

WHITE PLAINS, NY — Another rioter from the Hudson Valley has admitted to crimes during the January 6th assault on the U.S. Capitol.

A Westchester County man, formerly of Dutchess County, was found guilty on Wednesday of felony and misdemeanor charges related to his conduct during the Jan. 6, 2021, breach of the U.S. Capitol.

His actions and the actions of others disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress held to ascertain and count the electoral votes related to the 2020 presidential election.

William Joseph Pepe, of White Plains (formerly of Beacon), was found guilty of a felony charge of "tampering with records, documents, or objects, obstructing, impeding, or interfering with law enforcement during a civil disorder and misdemeanor charges of entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds, and tampering with records, documents, or other objects."

The 35-year-old will be sentenced on March 11, 2025.

According to prosecutors, on Jan. 6, 2021, around 10 a.m., Pepe met a group of around 100 Proud Boys near the Washington Monument, in D.C. He and the group soon marched away from the rally that was taking place near the monument and headed toward the U.S. Capitol building. The group arrived at the Peace Circle, on the edge of the restricted portion of Capitol grounds, at 12:50 p.m.

Prosecutors say that members of the crowd then violently disassembled and trampled the metal bike rack barriers, thus blocking further entry into Capitol grounds. With Pepe at the front, the crowd then charged over the fallen bike rack barriers and headed toward the West Plaza of the Capitol. Pepe and the crowd came across another set of metal bike rack barriers at the West Plaza, behind which was a line of police officers. Behind the officers was a waist-high black metal fence. Pepe and other rioters then dragged away a segment of the metal bike rack barriers.

The line of police officers then reformed behind the black metal fence. As Pepe and rioters approached the black metal fence, Pepe looked directly into a camera and yelled, "Let’s go! This is what we came for, yeah!"

Officers then began to use pepper spray and other crowd-control measures to get the crowd to disperse. Pepe was pepper-sprayed, and he posted a selfie-style video in which he said, "Yo, the cops pepper sprayed me and Hooks. Me and Hooks got f—ing maced. Storming that Capitol, baby!"

At 2:16 p.m., Pepe entered the Capitol through the Senate Wing Door. While inside, he recorded a video which he sent to fellow Proud Boys, in which he said "We did it." Pepe was inside the building for around 38 minutes, leaving at 2:54 p.m. through a broken window next to the Senate Wing Door.

Pepe, who worked for the MTA at the time, at the Brewster Metro-North rail yard, called out sick to attend the event. He was later suspended without pay after the MTA found out he was being investigated by the FBI for his participation in the siege.

The FBI arrested Pepe on Jan. 12 2021, in White Plains.

SEE ALSO: Hudson Valley 'Proud Boy' Indicted For Capitol Riot Conspiracy

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. Assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York.

The case is being investigated by the FBI’s New York and Washington Field Offices. Pepe was identified as BOLO (Be on the Lookout) # 4 on the FBI's seeking information images. Assistance was provided by the U.S. Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department.

Since Jan. 6, 2021, over 1,532 people have been charged in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including more than 571 charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement, a felony. The investigation remains ongoing.

Anyone with tips can call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or visit the FBI tips website.