Proud Boys organizer with Miami link and another Florida man charged in U.S. Capitol riot

David J. Neal
·4 min read

A Proud Boys organizer and manager in a Miami-based Proud Boys-related company grinned and said, “This is awesome,” as he invaded the U.S. Capitol during the Jan. 6 certification of the presidential election results. That’s according to the Orlando federal court charging documents for Ormond Beach resident Joseph Biggs, 37.

Also arrested Wednesday, after, prosecutors say, he posted a Facebook video of himself in the Capitol crypt and climbing out a Capitol window, is Pensacola man Jesus Rivera, also 37.

Each had his first appearance in federal court Wednesday. Biggs is charged with obstruction of an official proceeding, being in a restricted building or grounds, and violent and disorderly conduct. He posted $25,000 bond.

Rivera is charged with entering or remaining in a restricted building without lawful authority, disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds with intent to impede government business, disorderly or disruptive conduct on Capitol Building or Grounds, and parading or demonstrating in the Capitol building.

Pensacola federal court documents say he was released without bond, but, among other restrictions, had to give up his passport, can’t have a gun and can’t drink.

Joseph Biggs, Parler talk and pictures

Biggs’ affidavit describes him as “a member of a group known as the Proud Boys” and “a self-described organizer of certain of their events.”

It also says he posted on the right-wing-favored social media app Parler a statement directed at “Antifa” that “we will not be attending DC in colors. We will be blending in as one of you. You won’t see us. You’ll even think we are you . . .We are going to smell like you, move like you, and look like you. The only thing we’ll do that’s us is think like us! Jan 6th is gonna be epic.”

The affidavit in support of the criminal complaint says the bearded man at front left in this mob outside the U.S. Capitol is Ormond Beach’s Joseph Biggs.
The affidavit in support of the criminal complaint says the bearded man at front left in this mob outside the U.S. Capitol is Ormond Beach’s Joseph Biggs.

The affidavit says a live-streamed Parler video shows people pouring into the Capitol building after a window is broken and a nearby door opened. One of those people, investigators believe based on earlier photographs of his attire that day, was Biggs.

The affidavit says, “In the video, a voice off camera says, “Hey Biggs, what do you gotta say?” The person depicted below smiles broadly and replies, “This is awesome!” before pulling his gaiter up to cover his face.”

A picture of Biggs followed.

A federal court affidavit says this video still was Proud Boys member Joseph Biggs as he said, “This is awesome!” while invading the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6
A federal court affidavit says this video still was Proud Boys member Joseph Biggs as he said, “This is awesome!” while invading the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6

Monday, the affidavit says, Biggs talked with FBI agents after online videos showed him in the U.S. Capitol. He admitted going in, but said he went through an open door and “denied having any knowledge of any pre-planning of storming the Capitol, and had no idea who planned it.”

Florida state corporation registration records list Biggs as a manager of Miami-based Warboys, LLC, whose registered agent is “Henry Tarrio.” That’s one of the aka names listed in one database for Miami-based Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio. During the 10 months spanning 2018 and 2019 that Proudboys, LLC, was registered with the state, “Henry Tarrio” was listed as the agent and a manager. Proudboys used the same address as Warboys, 5730 NW Second St.

Warboys was registered with the state July 8, 2020, and is still active.

Jesus Rivera’s face on Facebook?

According to Rivera’s court documents, in a 1:42 p.m. video he uploaded to Facebook live, Rivera allegedly says, “Hey guys, if you are on here, share this live because I am about to take my ass to the middle of the state capitol and see what’s going on, where they are trying to jump in.”

(A footnote says despite Rivera saying “state capitol,” he’d already said he was in Washington, D.C., and later videos appeared to show him there, so it’s “reasonable to assume he meant the national U.S. Capitol building.”)

Around 3:15 p.m. Jan. 6, Rivera uploaded a five-minute video to his Facebook account showing people in the U.S. Capitol crypt.

What federal prosecutors say is a shot from Jesus Rivera’s Facebook video from the U.S. Capitol crypt
What federal prosecutors say is a shot from Jesus Rivera’s Facebook video from the U.S. Capitol crypt

“Approximately 13 seconds into the video, Rivera changed the direction of the camera towards the individual recording the video and Rivera’s face is clearly visible,” the statement of facts says. “The camera angle then changes back to outward facing and the crowd is once again visible.

What federal prosecutors say is a video still as Jesus Rivera turns his camera on himself during the invasion of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6.
What federal prosecutors say is a video still as Jesus Rivera turns his camera on himself during the invasion of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6.

“The video ends with the individual recording the footage, Rivera, beginning to climb out of a window.”