Source: United States Department of Justice News
WASHINGTON — A Pennsylvania man has been arrested on felony and misdemeanor charges for his actions during the breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. His 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.
Anthony Nolf, 37, of Birdsboro, Pennsylvania, is charged in a criminal complaint filed in the District of Columbia with civil disorder, a felony, as well as the misdemeanor offenses of entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds and disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds. He was arrested today in Pennsylvania and had an initial appearance in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
Heather Kepley, 36, of Millsboro, Delaware, is also named in the complaint and is charged with the misdemeanor offenses of entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds and disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds. She was arrested this morning in Delaware and had an initial appearance in the District of Delaware.
According to court documents, on Jan. 6, 2021, Nolf and Kepley entered the Capitol grounds and approached the West front near the Inaugural Stage, where they assisted other rioters in moving bike racks from an area near the scaffolding that were impeding the rioters’ approach to the Capitol building. After moving one of the bike racks, the pair made their way to the Lower West Terrace and the Tunnel. Kepley and Nolf joined other rioters in attempting to force their way past the law enforcement officers responsible for securing the Tunnel.
While inside the Tunnel, Nolf confronted and assisted the crowd in confronting the police officers that were preventing the Tunnel and the Capitol from being breached. Specifically, while inside the Tunnel, Nolf added his force, momentum, body, and effort to the other rioters in a “heave-ho” effort. This put intense aggregate pressure on the police line in front of the rioters. Officers succeeded in repelling Nolf and Kepley and other rioters out of the Tunnel. Nolf and Kepley stood outside the Tunnel for a period of time and watched as officers cleared the Tunnel of protestors. They then walked away from the Tunnel.
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 Offices for the District of Delaware and the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
The case is being investigated by the FBI’s Baltimore, Philadelphia, and Washington Field Offices. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department.
In the 26 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,000 individuals have been arrested in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including more than 320 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement. 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.