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

Press Release

Thursday, February 22, 2024

For Immediate Release

U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Columbia

WASHINGTON – A Pennsylvania man pleaded guilty today to a felony charge related to 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.

Brian Healion, 33, of Upper Darby, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty today in the District of Columbia to a felony offense of civil disorder. U.S. District Judge Timothy J. Kelly scheduled sentencing for June 13, 2024.

According to court documents, Healion, a Philadelphia Proud Boys chapter member, traveled to Washington, D.C., to protest Congress's certification of the Electoral College vote for the 2020 presidential election. Healion was a member of the Ministry of Self Defense or MOSD, a hand-selected sub-group within the Proud Boys created by former Proud Boys Chairman Henry “Enrique” Tarrio as a "national rally planning" chapter.

In the days leading up to Jan. 6, 2021, court documents say that Healion knew Congress was meeting at the Capitol on January 6th to certify the votes of the 2020 Presidential Election. Healion posted a message in a chat with other members of the MOSD that said, "What time is the whole political/presidential situation happening that day? With pence and the electoral votes? And are we planning for either an unlikely joyous moment of pence [sic] growing balls?"

On the morning of Jan. 6, 2021, Healion met with approximately 100 other members of the Proud Boys at the Washington Monument and proceeded to follow Proud Boys leadership – including Ethan Nordean and Philadelphia Proud Boys President Zachary Rehl – on a march toward the Capitol building. A few minutes later, as the group marched past U.S. Capitol Police officers at approximately 11:28 a.m., members of the group taunted them, yelling "Treason," and warning the officers, "Don't make us go against you."

The group, including Healion, continued to march around the perimeter of the Capitol grounds before arriving at the Peace Circle at the edge of the restricted permitter of Capitol grounds. By the time he arrived at the U.S. Capitol, Healion had concealed his face using a black gaiter. Proud Boys leadership then led the crowd, including Healion, in a chant and a surge toward the police line.

The crowd, including Healion, crossed over and trampled bike rack barriers in their advance toward the Capitol building. Once on Capitol grounds, Healion assisted other rioters with crossing back and forth over the police line and witnessed other rioters engage with officers by attempting to pull bike rack barricades away from the police. Healion then moved to the front of the crowd opposite the line of officers and reached out to try and grab a bike. Court documents say that he attempted to grab the bike rack to interfere with the officers' efforts to maintain a police line. Less than one minute later, Healion succeeded when he again reached out toward the bike rack, grabbed it, and yanked it away from a Metropolitan Police Department Officer.

Healion then followed other Proud Boys members to the Upper West Terrace of the building and eventually into the building at approximately 2:53 p.m. through the Senate Wing Door. Once inside, Healion and others entered the office of a U.S. Senator and posed for pictures. After spending approximately 20 minutes inside the building, Healion and other members of the Proud Boys exited via a broken window.

The FBI arrested Healion on Dec. 10, 2021, in Upper Darby.

The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice National Security Division's Counterterrorism Section prosecuted this case. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania provided valuable assistance.

The FBI's Philadelphia and Washington Field Offices investigated this case. The U.S. Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department provided valuable assistance.

In the 37 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,313 individuals have been charged in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including more than 469 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.

Updated February 22, 2024

Press Release Number: 24-163