North Carolina “Proud Boy” Arrested for Obstruction of Law Enforcement and Other Charges During Jan. 6 Capitol Breach

            WASHINGTON — A North Carolina man has been arrested on felony and misdemeanor charges related to his alleged conduct during the Jan. 6, 2021, breach of the U.S. Capitol. His alleged actions and the actions of others disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress convened to ascertain and count the electoral votes related to the presidential election.

            Jay Robert Thaxton, 49, of Concord, North Carolina, is charged in a criminal complaint filed in the District of Columbia with a felony offense of obstruction of law enforcement during a civil disorder. In addition to the felony, Thaxton is charged with four misdemeanor offenses, including entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly conduct in a Capitol building or grounds, and obstructing or impeding passage in a Capitol building or grounds.

            The FBI arrested Thaxton today in Charlotte, North Carolina, and he is expected to make his initial appearance in the Western District of North Carolina.

            According to court documents, Thaxton, a member of the Proud Boys, gathered with other members of the organization on the National Mall on Jan. 6. 2021, in preparation for a march along the Mall and around the U.S. Capitol building. The group of Proud Boys, including Thaxton, marched along the west, north, and east sides of the Capitol prior to the breach of Capitol grounds.

            Court documents say that the group arrived in the vicinity of the Peace Memorial at approximately 12:50 p.m. as rioters breached the outer fencing of Capitol grounds and advanced toward the Lower West Plaza. Publicly available footage shows Thaxton making his way to the front ranks of the rioters advancing into the Lower West Plaza.

            On the Lower West Plaza, court documents say that Thaxton joined rioters' efforts to breach a police line by grabbing, pushing, and pulling on police bike racks set up as temporary barricades. It is alleged that as a result of these efforts and others, rioters eventually breached the police line on the Lower West Plaza.   

            Thaxton was later arrested in D.C. that night for violating a curfew order.

            This 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. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of North Carolina.

            The case is being investigated by the FBI's Charlotte and Washington Field Offices. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department.

            In the 40 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,424 individuals have been charged in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including more than 500 individuals 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 tips.fbi.gov.

            A complaint is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.