Brian Ulrich Georgia riot guilty plea

Brian Ulrich faces up to 40 years in prison in total for pleading guilty to two charges, although the government will recommend less as part of a plea deal.

GUYTON, Georgia — A Georgia man pleaded guilty to his January 6 case of seditious conspiracy and obstruction of an official proceeding and faces up to 40 years in prison.

Brian Ulrich of Guyton, Georgia, is the 11th Georgia resident or person with ties to the state to plead guilty to a count of rioting at the Capitol. Despite including the government in his plea deal, his sentence ranks among the most severe a Georgian has faced.

As part of the plea agreement, the government will review Ulrich’s case with an estimated felony count of 26, which would result in a 63 to 78 month prison sentence under federal guidelines for conviction because he has no criminal record.

However, the sentencing judge in his case is not bound by the agreement and could impose up to a maximum of 20 years in prison for any of his crimes.

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According to a Justice Department release, Ulrich was a member of the “Oath Keepers” militia movement, which played one of the most organized and sophisticated roles in fomenting the Jan. 6 riots.

The DOJ alleges that prior to Jan. 6, Ulrich voiced his insurgent views with fellow group members on a communications app called Signal.

“In a chat on December 5, 2020, he wrote to the group, ‘I seriously wonder what it would take to get every patriot to march through the capital armed? Just to show our government how powerless they are!’ On December 11, 2020, Ulrich told the group chat that a “civil war” might be necessary if Joseph R. Biden became President of the United States, adding, “I made my peace with God before I joined.” Another person later wrote, “Remember, it’s not over until January 20th.” Ulrich replied, ‘And if there’s a civil war, then there’s a civil war.'”

The government said Ulrich purchased “tactical gear and other items” including radios, a tactical holster, a medical tourniquet and a “half-skull motorcycle helmet” before traveling to Washington on Jan. 4.

When Ulrich and others learned of the Capitol break-in on Jan. 6, they made their way to the scene, the government said, “evading several barricades, including marked law enforcement vehicles.”

He was accused of reaching and entering the Capitol before exiting some time later when officials were clearing it.

He and others weaved through the restricted area in a military “stack” formation with handy shoulders and gear. Ulrich marched in a single file up the stairs on the east side of the Capitol. He entered the building at 3:22 p.m. and maneuvered his way to the rotunda entrance while police officers attempted to clear the area. After officers used a chemical irritant spray, Ulrich exited the Capitol and assembled with other co-conspirators about 100 feet from the building.

A criminal offenses document stated that Ulrich intended by “taking such action to influence or influence the conduct of the United States Government and to seek revenge on the United States Government”.

“He accomplished this through intimidation and coercion of government personnel who participated in or assisted in the congressional process, including members of Congress, congressional staffers and law enforcement officers from the Capitol Police and Metropolitan Police Department,” the document said.

As part of his plea agreement, Ulrich was able to cooperate in cases related to other Oath Keepers members named in his offense document.

The agreement states that he will “fully, truthfully, fully and openly cooperate with this office and other federal, state and local law enforcement agencies” and “will promptly turn over to the government any evidence of crimes of which your client is aware.” .”

A sentencing date has not yet been set, according to the DOJ.

Three former Georgia residents or people with ties to Georgia have been convicted in Jan. 6 cases — Verden Nalley received two years’ probation in March, with a judge saying his involvement was “less egregious” than most other cases.

Previously, Cleveland Meredith Jr. received two years in prison and Devlyn Thompson almost four years.

Cleveland Meredith Jr. received two years in prison and Devlyn Thompson almost four years.