More than two months after his wife was charged with four misdemeanors related to the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol breach, Spencer Sidney Geller has been charged by federal prosecutors with five counts, including helping to push over the first police barricades on the U.S. Capitol’s west front.
Mr. Geller was charged with felony obstruction of law enforcement during civil disorder and four misdemeanors: entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly conduct in a Capitol building, and parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a Capitol building.
On May 9, his wife, Jennifer Inzunza Vargas Geller, was charged with entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly conduct in the Capitol grounds or buildings, and parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a Capitol building.
Ms. Vargas Geller has drawn widespread attention for her alleged behavior on Jan. 6, 2021, and her distinctive outfit, topped by a stylish pink beret.
For more than two years, she wasn’t listed as wanted by the FBI. In February, Ms. Vargas Geller was mentioned in a motion by defense attorney Kira West as an alleged provocateur who lured Ms. West’s client, Darrell Neely, into the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.
On April 27, the FBI listed the still-unidentified Pink Beret on its Jan. 6 most-wanted page as No. 537.
The husband-and-wife criminal cases are unusual because the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and the FBI announced charges against the couple before any arrests were made; federal magistrates have more often sealed Jan. 6 criminal cases, then made the records public after the defendants are arrested.
According to independent journalist Steve Baker, the Gellers both left the United States and are living in Thailand with their 9-month-old daughter.
It’s unclear whether the FBI or U.S. Marshals will pursue apprehension of the couple, however. Neither is listed in the FBI’s fugitives database, although Ms. Vargas Geller is featured on the Jan. 6 web page.
The Epoch Times contacted the FBI and Interpol to inquire as to whether the Gellers would be arrested and extradited to the United States but didn’t receive replies by press time.
A few days after Ms. Vargas Geller’s photos were released by the FBI in April, a tipster who identified himself as a former boyfriend provided her name, age, telephone number, and home address, according to prosecutors.
Based on a review of open-source video, the FBI stated that Mr. Geller was among the protesters who pushed over the bicycle-rack barricades that served as the police line near the Peace Monument at about 12:50 p.m. on Jan. 6, 2021.
The FBI stated that it didn’t find any social media posts or photographs by Mr. Geller showing that he went into the Capitol. Nor did agents find geolocation data for phones associated with Mr. Geller at the Capitol that day.
Ms. Vargas Geller is seen on open source and CCTV video near the first breach point. After the barricades were breached, she sprinted in high heels across the west lawn to get to the Capitol.
Ms. West alleged in her defense motion that Ms. Vargas Geller lured Mr. Neely into the Capitol. She allegedly collected equipment belonging to police officers in the Crypt and handed them to Mr. Neely, who returned the equipment to a police officer, according to Ms. West.
Ms. West wrote that Ms. Vargas Geller was seen elsewhere outside and inside the Capitol, alone and with other individuals. On the Upper West Terrace, Ms. Vargas Geller stood atop a small staircase “directing people like [conductor Arturo] Toscanini into the Capitol,” according to Ms. West.
“Mr. Neely’s entry into the Capitol was directed by Pink Beret,” Ms. West said in the court filing. “She had associates in the building that day and seemed to have information well beyond that of a normal citizen there to protest.”
After a May bench trial, Mr. Neely was found guilty by U.S. District Judge John Bates of theft of government property, entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly conduct in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly conduct in a Capitol building, and parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a Capitol building. He was acquitted of civil disorder.
Mr. Neely will be sentenced on Sept. 5 in Washington.
