Accused of being leader of local Proud Boys
A federal judge in Washington, D.C, on Wednesday (Oct. 23) found a former Beacon man guilty of five counts related to the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.
William Joseph Pepe, 35, was identified by prosecutors as president of the Hudson Valley chapter of the Proud Boys, who they said coordinated travel and lodging and, using earpieces and radios to communicate, dismantled barriers and broke windows. Pepe was arrested six days after the riot and fired from his job at Metro-North in Brewster.
The White Plains resident chose to have U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly, rather than a jury, hear the case at trial, which took place in August. Pepe was released until his sentencing, which is scheduled for March 11.
Pepe was convicted of a felony (obstructing law enforcement during a civil disorder) and four misdemeanors (obstructing an official proceeding; entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds; disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds; and tampering with records, documents or other objects).
Pepe was initially charged in April 2021 with conspiring with two other defendants, Dominic Pezzola of Rochester (sentenced to 10 years in prison) and Matthew Greene of Syracuse (who pleaded guilty and became a government witness). A new indictment issued in April did not contain the conspiracy charge.
According to the Justice Department, 1,532 individuals have been charged with crimes related to Jan. 6, including 571 accused of felonies for assaulting or impeding officers. As recently as Tuesday (Oct. 22), the FBI arrested a 41-year-old Ohio man who was charged with assaulting, resisting or impeding officers on Jan. 6.
At least 10 area men have been charged. Three Putnam County residents pleaded guilty to entering the Capitol, a former Newburgh resident received a 4½-year sentence, and a Pawling resident was given a 30-day sentence.
Two Dutchess County brothers and their uncle, convicted by a jury, were scheduled for sentencing on Oct. 18 but asked for a delay, saying they had fired their attorneys. On Oct. 15, the judge granted the request but said it was unrelated to the motion. A new sentencing date is pending.
Gregory Purdy Jr., 26, a 2016 Carmel High School graduate, and his uncle, Robert Turner, 42, formerly of Poughkeepsie, remain incarcerated. Matthew Purdy, 25, who was convicted of two misdemeanors, was released.
In a related motion, on Sept. 4 federal prosecutors asked the judge to dismiss the convictions of Gregory Purdy and Turner for obstructing an official proceeding following a U.S. Supreme Court ruling on June 28 that questioned the application of the charge in many Jan. 6 prosecutions.
Among other pending cases, Christopher Finney of Hopewell Junction, arrested in February and charged with two felonies and five misdemeanors, had a court date scheduled for Oct. 3 but no information has been released.
Edward “Jake” Lang, of Newburgh, who was arrested and incarcerated 10 days after the riot on charges he assaulted police officers, will face trial next month. Jury selection is scheduled to begin Nov. 12.
These are the enemy within! [via Facebook]