California Man Indicted on Felony and Misdemeanor Charges for Actions During Jan. 6 Capitol Breach

            WASHINGTON – A California man is charged by indictment with a felony and multiple misdemeanor charges related to his conduct during the breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. His actions and those of others disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress convened to ascertain and count the electoral votes related to the 2020 presidential election.

            Joshua Kaleb Youngerman, 23, of Imperial Beach, California, is charged in a six-count indictment with obstruction of an official proceeding, a felony; knowingly entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds; disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds; disorderly and disruptive conduct on Capitol grounds; parading, demonstrating, or picketing on any Capitol grounds; and stepping and climbing on any erection or architectural feature on Capitol grounds.

            According to court documents, Youngerman was an alleged member of the Telegram group “The California Patriots- DC Brigade,” or “DC Brigade.” The DC Brigade was a group of individuals, primarily based in California, who used the platform “Telegram” to identify themselves, communicate, and coordinate with each other regarding travel to Washington, D.C., and participation in the events of Jan. 6, 2021. The “About” section of the Telegram group stated: “This group will serve as the Comms for able bodied individuals that are going to DC on Jan 6. Many of us have not met before and we are all ready and willing to be engaged in this fight. We will come together for this moment that we are called upon.”  Youngerman introduced himself to this group by noting he had “[n]o police nor military experience,” but added that he has “had to throw hands on multiple occasions and have a little bit of MMA training.”  According to court documents, in addition to Telegram, Youngerman discussed his intentions on Twitter.  On December 17, 2020, in response to another Tweet regarding a Supreme Court decision regarding the 2020 election results, Youngerman responded, “Then I guess us Patriots will just riot then. Show what their actions has caused.”

            Court documents say that Youngerman attended the former President’s speech at the Ellipse on January 6th in Washington, D.C., and afterward made his way to the U.S. Capitol building. Youngerman was identified on Capitol building closed-circuit television footage climbing up a rope on the northwest wall of the Capitol building that led to a stairway.

            Youngerman entered the Capitol at approximately 2:37 p.m. and proceeded to the Rotunda before exiting a short while later via the Upper West Terrace Door.

            Following the events of January 6th, Youngerman wrote of his time in Washington, D.C., that day in a series of social media posts. In one such post, Youngerman wrote, in part, that “I am in full support of storming and occupying the Capital from the inside and out. That was the original intent for many. We came to claim back our house.”

            The FBI arrested Youngerman on July 24, 2023, in California.

            The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section are prosecuting this case. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California provided valuable assistance.

            The FBI’s San Diego and Washington Field Offices investigated this case. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department.

            In the 39 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,387 individuals have been charged in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including more than 493 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement, a felony. The investigation remains ongoing.

            Anyone with tips can call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or visit tips.fbi.gov.