Florida “Proud Boy” Pleads Guilty to Felony for Actions During Jan. 6 Capitol Breach (original) (raw)

WASHINGTON – A Florida man pleaded guilty today to a felony charge 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 2020 presidential election.

Steven Miles, 40, of Zephyrhills, Fla., pleaded guilty in the District of Columbia to assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain law enforcement officers. U.S. District Judge Jia M. Cobb scheduled sentencing for Feb. 9, 2024.

According to court documents and the plea agreement, Miles, a member of the Proud Boys and adult film actor, traveled from his home near Tampa to Washington, D.C., to attend the January 6 rally at the Ellipse. He and other members of the Proud Boys left the rally site long before the speeches began, walked to the West Front of the Capitol, and played a leading role in the riot.

Wearing a desert-camouflaged jacket and jungle camo pants, Miles, along with his co-defendant Matthew Lebrun, 33, of New Orleans, breached the restricted perimeter and were not deterred by barricades, signs, and lines of police officers in riot gear.

Miles confronted U.S. Capitol Police officers, shoving and attempting to punch an officer as LeBrun cheered him on. In addition to attempting to assault the officer, Miles made additional physical contact with law enforcement officers, seeking to obstruct, impede, and interfere with their efforts to hold back the rioters.

At about 2:10 p.m., Miles and LeBrun ascended the staircase to the Upper West Terrace. At 2:13 p.m., Miles used a wooden plank to help smash a window of the Senate Wing Door and then entered the Capitol through the broken window with LeBrun following behind him. A cascade of other rioters then took advantage of the smashed window to enter the Capitol as well; the sheer number of rioters outside and inside the building overwhelmed law enforcement officers. After a three-minute walk through the Capitol Building, Miles and LeBrun exited through the Senate Carriage Door.

The FBI arrested Miles on Apr. 12, 2022, in Zephyrhills.

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 Middle District of Florida and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana.

The case is being investigated by the FBI’s Tampa and New Orleans Field Offices. Valuable assistance was provided by the FBI’s Washington Field Office, the Metropolitan Police Department, and the U.S. Capitol Police.

In the 33 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,100 individuals have been charged in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including more than 400 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.