WASHINGTON (Washington Insider Magazine) – On Friday, federal prosecution obtained a 2nd guilty plea and cooperation agreement from a representative of the Oath Keepers militia organization accused in the administration’s seditious conspiracy lawsuit coming from the Jan. 6 attack on the United States Capitol.
Brian Ulrich, of Guyton, Georgia, revealed this Friday that he was among the Oath Keepers who were spotted mounting the Capitol’s east stairs in an army-style “stack” formation during the violence.
The 44-year-old admitted to 2 felony counts of obstruction of an official proceeding and seditious conspiracy, each of which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in jail and a penalty of up to $250,000. Ulrich’s anticipated crime level has a sentencing range of 63-78 months, according to his plea agreement, however the government may suggest a lower term depending on his cooperation.
Ulrich promised to offer “substantial cooperation” to the government as part of his plea agreement, which included testifying in front of a grand jury and also at trial, as well as appearing for further interviews with the authorities if they requested it.
Ulrich grew emotional as D.C. district court judge Amit Mehta outlined the conditions of his plea, his voice quivering as Mehta recounted the possible jail sentence he may face at sentencing.
Throughout the hearing, he could be noticed crying on the conference call multiple times.
Ulrich admitted using the Signal app to transmit private communications to other members of the Oath Keepers about their intentions to stop Joe Biden from becoming president in support of then-President Donald Trump, according to a document published Friday.
Ulrich also acknowledged that he journeyed to Washington, D.C. on January 4 knowing that other group members had stashed weapons at a hotel in Virginia, where prosecution say a multitude of Oath Keepers were positioned on January 6 as part of a highly armed “Quick Reaction Force” in a scenario the organization sought to move weapons into the city.
Ulrich claimed he bought combat gear as well as other equipment before his trip, including 2-way radio transmitters, which he took inside the Capitol.
Ulrich claimed he and many other Oath Keepers supporters were at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington when the attack on the Capitol began. The group collected their belongings and hurried to the Capitol on golf carts to assist in the attack after hearing stories of the crowd breaking police lines.
According to the prosecution, Ulrich continued to speak with other Oath Keepers on Signal in the days following Jan. 6, saying in one text that he and Oath Keepers leader Stewart Rhodes needed to “stay below the radar.”
Ulrich’s plea comes after prosecution reached a similar arrangement with Joshua James, a representative of the Oath Keepers’ Alabama branch, who acknowledged providing protection for former Trump advisor Roger Stone the day before the disturbance, according to ABC NEWS.
There are 9 other Oath Keepers members facing seditious conspiracy charges, including Rhodes, who have all pleaded not guilty and promised to fight the allegations in court.
