Ray Epps, a mysterious J6 figure some theorized to be a federal informant, has been sentenced to a year of probation for his participation in the January 6, 2021, Capitol breach, evading the six-month sentence suggested by prosecutors.
Epps, a 62-year-old former Oath Keepers member, was ordered to pay $500 in restitution and serve 100 hours of community service in addition to probation.
In September, the Arizona man pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of disorderly or disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds as part of a deal with Justice Department prosecutors. The government recommended the “high end of the applicable guidelines range” of six months of incarceration for Epps, as well as one year of supervised release and $500 in restitution.
It was argued that Epps should only be given probation by his legal team. “This 62-year-old man has displayed remorse, accepted responsibility, and taken-on the brand of a convicted criminal that shames and embarrasses him and his family and will stain him for the rest of his life,” lawyer Ed Ungvarsky said in a sentencing memo, The Hill reported.
Notably, Epps was a central figure in the Capitol breach from the early on. He’s seen in multiple video clips from January 6 and the day before trying to whip up other Trump supporters to “go into the Capitol” the next day.
“I’ll say it. We need to go into the Capitol,” Epps says in one clip. The crowd of Trump supporters then starts chanting back at Epps, “Fed! Fed! Fed!”
Moreover, at least four times on video, Epps repeats his call to action to “go into the Capitol,” and later texted his nephew that he “orchestrated” the riot. “I was in the front with a few others, I also orchestrated it,” one text reads.
BREAKING: Ray Epps, the only January 6 protester who actually told people to go into the Capitol, has been officially sentenced to one year probation, $500 restitution, and 100 hours community service.
While many J6 protesters are rotting in jail for non-violent crimes, Epps… pic.twitter.com/qPWwktAPbu
— Greg Price (@greg_price11) January 9, 2024
Epps was initially on the FBI’s wanted list for January 6, but he was suddenly dropped, fueling conspiracies that he might be protected by the feds. It was much later, in September, when he struck a deal with the DOJ.
Daniel Chaitin and Mairead Elordi contributed to this report.
Related: Prosecutors Recommend 6 Months Of Prison For Ray Epps