Dutchess County Brothers Guilty in Jan. 6 Attack

Uncle also convicted in D.C. jury trial

Two Dutchess County brothers and their uncle were found guilty by a federal jury in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday (June 11) for their role in storming the Capital on Jan. 6, 2021.

Gregory Purdy Jr., 26, a 2016 Carmel High School graduate who lives in Hopewell Junction, faced 12 charges, including six felonies, and his uncle, Robert Turner, 42, formerly of Poughkeepsie, faced nine charges, including three felonies. Both men were accused of assaulting police officers. Matthew Purdy, 25, faced four misdemeanor counts and was acquitted of two.

Purdy Jr. and Turner were imprisoned following the verdict; Matthew Purdy was released until sentencing for all three men, which the judge scheduled for Oct. 18.

By one estimate, about 140 police officers were injured during the Jan. 6 assault, which was an effort to prevent the certification of President Joe Biden’s election win. One protester was shot and killed by a Capitol police officer and the riot is believed to have contributed to the deaths of at least three police officers.

According to the Justice Department, more than 1,450 individuals have been charged with crimes related to Jan. 6, including more than 500 accused of felonies for assaulting or impeding officers.

The Purdy brothers are sons of Gregory Purdy-Schwartz a Republican from Kent who in 2016 challenged then-Assembly Member Sandy Galef, a Democrat whose district included Philipstown, for her seat. According to a LinkedIn profile, Purdy Jr. managed his father’s campaign.

Purdy-Schwartz was recorded at the Capitol confronting police officers with Purdy Jr., according to an FBI complaint, but has not been charged.

The jury on Tuesday found Purdy Jr. guilty of three counts of obstructing officers during civil disorder; two counts of assaulting, resisting or impeding officers; and two counts of engaging in violence in a restricted building or grounds. 

He was also found guilty of obstructing an official proceeding; entering and remaining in a restricted building; disorderly and disruptive conduct; and parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building.

Turner was found guilty of obstructing officers; assaulting, resisting or impeding officers; and engaging in violence in a restricted building or grounds. He also was found guilty of obstructing an official proceeding; entering and remaining in a restricted building; disorderly and disruptive conduct; and parading, demonstrating or picketing

Matthew Purdy was found guilty of disorderly conduct and parading, demonstrating or picketing. He was acquitted of entering and remaining in a restricted building and disorderly and disruptive conduct.

In a court filing after Purdy Jr. was arrested in November 2021, the FBI cited videos he posted on social media and footage retrieved from body cameras worn by two Metropolitan Police Department officers who were confronted outside the Capitol at 2 p.m. by Purdy Jr. and Purdy-Schwartz, about 20 minutes before the House and Senate chambers were evacuated. According to the FBI, Purdy Jr. told the officers, “You gotta let us by,” and his father said, “You’re going to make a decision… .”

Purdy Jr. later posted to Instagram, according to the criminal complaint: “Inside the capital getting tear gassed! My eyes and skin still are irritated! Wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be.” He promised to post more footage with his brother and uncle from inside the Capitol and to explain “how I got out of it with no charges and nothing on my record and got out of DC without being in a jail cell.”

According to the FBI, Purdy Jr. wrote: “Our country is in major trouble! Our government doesn’t listen to its own laws. Today was about taking our democracy back. We have undisputed proof of major voter fraud … yes, undisputable! And we have been denied the proper court proceeding and special counsel. When they don’t follow the rule of the land then we have to send them a message!”

Purdy Jr.’s LinkedIn profile says he studied briefly at Liberty University, a private evangelical university in Virginia, and in 2018 founded a marketing firm, Once Upon a Time.

The brothers and Turner have been free on bond since their arrests. After dropping their court-appointed counsel, the men hired Melissa Isaak, an Alabama attorney who specializes in representing men in divorces. On March 20, Purdy Jr. and Turner hired Dylan Barket, a Miami-based lawyer.

At least 10 area men have been charged in connection to Jan. 6. Three Putnam residents pleaded guilty to entering the Capitol, one former Newburgh resident received a 4½-year sentence and a Pawling resident was given a 30-day sentence.

Here is the status of three outstanding cases:

William Pepe, Beacon

Prosecutors allege Pepe, who was arrested six days after the riot, was among the members of the far-right Proud Boys who coordinated travel and lodging and, using earpieces and radios to communicate, dismantled barriers and broke windows. Following his arrest, Pepe was fired from his job at Metro-North in Brewster. He was indicted on four counts, including conspiracy; assaulting, resisting or impeding officers; and aiding and abetting.

Pepe, who has pleaded not guilty, is represented by John Pierce, a California lawyer who in 2021 founded the National Constitutional Law Union, which he describes as “the answer to the useless and radically leftist American Civil Liberties Union.” Pierce has refuted the accusations against his client as a “giant conspiracy theory” and accused prosecutors of “campaigning for the Democrat Party.” A bench trial is scheduled for Aug. 20.

Christopher Finney, Hopewell Junction

Finney was arrested Feb. 8 and charged with two felonies and five misdemeanors, according to an FBI news release.

According to the agency, Finney was recorded saying: “We’re storming the Capitol right now. We just broke over the fence.” He was among the rioters pushing against a police line in a tunnel on the grounds, the FBI said. His next court appearance is scheduled for July 23.

Edward “Jake” Lang, Newburgh

Lang was arrested 10 days after the riot. According to the FBI, he can be seen in the crowd striking officers’ shields with a bat.

In July, Lang petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court, challenging the charge of “obstructing, influencing or impeding an official proceeding,” which carries a sentence of up to 20 years. He argued that the law only applies to destroying documents or other evidence. A jury trial has been scheduled for September but the judge is waiting for the Supreme Court decision.

Lang, who is incarcerated in Brooklyn, has made repeated motions to be released on bond. Federal prosecutors replied most recently on June 7, citing jailhouse rules violations, such as an incident in April in which Lang allegedly used deception to call his girlfriend from jail and instruct her how to solicit donations from his online “followers” and during which he recorded a statement to share with conservative internet host Lou Dobbs, who has described Lang as a “political prisoner.”