The Department of Justice says a Granbury man led an effort to overthrow the U.S. government during the Jan. 6 riot.
Fifty-six-year-old Elmer Stewart Rhodes of Granbury is scheduled to make his first appearance in federal court Friday on charges connected to his involvement with the insurrection. Thursday, 11 people were charged with "seditious conspiracy."
Another North Texas man, 37-year-old Roberto Minuta of Prosper, was also charged.
Prosecutors said Rhodes is the founder of the group, the Oath Keepers. The indictment says Rhodes started to send encrypted messages to followers two days after the 2020 presidential election.
"We aren't getting through this without a civil war," Rhodes wrote, according to the indictment. "Too late for that. Prepare your mind, body, spirit."
The indictment says Rhodes held an online meeting Nov. 9 and "outlined a plan to stop the lawful transfer of presidential power, including preparations for the use of force, and urged those listening to participate."
"Rhodes and certain co-conspirators, to include selected regional leaders, planned to stop the lawful transfer of presidential power by January 20, 2021, which included multiple ways to deploy force," the indictment reads.
Rhodes has previously said he was in Washington January 6, 2021, but he did not enter the Capitol.
The indictment says some people involved "amassed firearms on the outskirts of Washington D.C., distributed them among 'quick reaction force' teams, and planned to use the firearms in support of their plot to stop the lawful transfer of presidential power."
The charge of seditious conspiracy carries a sentence of up to 20 years in prison.
Related
LISTEN on the Audacy App
Sign Up and Follow NewsRadio 1080 KRLD