Marion man one of 11 charged with seditious conspiracy in Jan. 6, 2021 U.S. Capitol attack

Staff report
·2 min read

Editor's note: This story has been revised to correct the first name of Jamie Buteau.

Kelly Meggs of Dunnellon is among those now charged with seditious conspiracy in connection with the Jan. 6, 2021 assault on the U.S. Capitol.

Meggs, 52, already faced related charges. But the stakes became much higher on Thursday when a federal indictment was unsealed. It charges Meggs and 10 others with seditious conspiracy, which is punishable by up to 20 years in prison, according to a Department of Justice news release.

The indictment alleges that Meggs, who has been described as the Florida leader of the Oath Keepers, led "Stack One" – a team that marched in stack formation up the Capitol's east steps and eventually got into the building on Jan. 6, 2021 as part of an effort to thwart the counting of Electoral College votes in the 2020 presidential election.

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Federal prosecutors say Meggs was known as "Gator 1" and "OK Gator 1." They also say he helped plan, supply and execute a plan "to oppose by force the execution of the laws governing the transfer of presidential power," as the news release put it.

Meggs, as well as his wife, Connie, are two of six Marion County residents charged in connection with the assault on the Capitol.

Rioters scale a wall at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington.
Rioters scale a wall at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington.

The cases against the Meggses and another couple, Jamie and Jennifer Buteau of Ocala, remain pending.

Last year, Michael Curzio of Summerfield pleaded guilty to Parading, Demonstrating, or Picketing in a Capitol Building. He served six months behind bars and paid a $500 fine. Kenneth Kelly of Ocala has also pleaded guilty to Parading, Demonstrating, or Picketing in a Capitol Building and was scheduled to be sentenced on Friday.

This article originally appeared on Ocala Star-Banner: Jan 6 riot: Marion County, Florida man charged with seditious conspiracy