Texas Border Businesses
U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Columbia
WASHINGTON, DC – A Texas man, a member of the Proud Boys, was convicted on September 18, 2024 of felony and misdemeanor charges related to his actions during the breach of the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. His actions, and those of others, disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress that convened to certify and count the electoral votes related to the 2020 presidential election.
Jeffrey David Reed, 49, of Rosankey, Texas, was convicted of felony disturbance of the peace and misdemeanor counts of entering or remaining in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly conduct in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds and marching, demonstrating or picketing on Capitol grounds.
Reed was sentenced in a bench trial in the District of Columbia by Chief U.S. District Judge James E. Boasberg. Chief Judge Boasberg will sentence Reed on December 20, 2024.
According to evidence presented at trial, Reed, a member of New York’s Hudson Valley chapter of the Proud Boys, participated in an event in Washington, DC on January 6, 2021, as part of the group’s organized activities. Specifically, Reed was part of a group that pushed past lines of officers during an initial breach of a restricted area near Peace Circle, breaking through a metal bike rack barrier and a snow fence marked with “Area Closed” signs.
This forced police officers, overwhelmed by the crowd’s numbers, to run back down the Pennsylvania Walkway toward the Capitol and regroup, forming a second police line between the rioters and the Capitol. As the crowd advanced, Reed ran to the front of the mob and reached the next set of barricades, made up of metal bike racks. Capitol Police had set these up to secure the Capitol and keep the crowd at bay. Reed grabbed one of the bike racks with both hands, lifted it up and pushed it aside, paving the way for the mob of several thousand to advance toward the Capitol. Outnumbered by the advancing mob, police officers were forced to withdraw at the West Plaza.
Reed continued to advance toward the Capitol, where he was confronted by a third police line that officers had formed behind a metal fence that was part of the inauguration stage construction. At this point, Reed, who was still at the front of the crowd, was confronted by officers, who were shouting and pointing at him. Police tried to maintain the line for over an hour, but were eventually overwhelmed. Emboldened by their numbers, the mob again advanced, overpowering the police and marching into the Capitol’s West Plaza. While the crowd tried to block access to the Southwest Stairs, a key access point, Reed physically pulled on another metal bike rack with both hands, using his body weight to try to pull the bike rack from an officer. The struggle resulted in an officer falling to the ground. The crowd, including Reed, stormed the Southwest Stairs and the inauguration stage, then charged into the Capitol itself.
At approximately 2:26 PM, Reed entered the Capitol through the Senate Wing doors amid the chaos, stepping over broken glass. Once inside, he made his way to the Speaker’s Lobby, just outside the House chamber. Reed exited the Capitol approximately 16 minutes later, at approximately 2:49 PM, through the East Rotunda doors. After exiting the Capitol, Reed remained in a restricted area on the east side of the Capitol, climbing on top of a law enforcement vehicle and ripping a “Police Lives Matter” flag on the east steps of the Capitol.
This case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice’s National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section, with valuable assistance from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas.
This case is being investigated by the FBI’s San Antonio and Washington fields, as well as the New York field office, with valuable assistance from the U.S. Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department.
In the 44 months since January 6, 2021, more than 1,504 people have been indicted in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including more than 560 people charged with assault and obstruction of law enforcement (felony offenses). Investigations are ongoing.
Anyone with information is asked to call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or visit tips.fbi.gov.
Updated September 20, 2024
