South Carolina Men Arrested on Felony and Misdemeanor Charges for Actions During Jan. 6 Capitol Breach

            WASHINGTON — Two men from South Carolina have been arrested on felony and misdemeanor charges related to their conduct during the breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Their actions and the actions 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.

            Christopher George Rockey, 54, of Cross, South Carolina, is charged in a criminal complaint filed in the District of Columbia with felony offenses of assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers and civil disorder. In addition to the felonies, Rockey is charged with multiple misdemeanor offenses, including knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or ground without lawful authority, disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds, act of physical violence in the Capitol grounds or buildings, and parading, demonstrating, or picketing in any of the Capitol buildings. 

            Edward Picquet, Jr., 61, of Hollywood, South Carolina, is charged with a felony offense of civil disorder in a criminal complaint filed in the District of Columbia. In addition to the felony, Picquet is charged with various misdemeanor offenses, including knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or ground without lawful authority, disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly conduct in a Capitol building, and parading, demonstrating, or picketing in any of the Capitol buildings. 

            Rockey and Picquet were arrested today in South Carolina and will make their initial appearance in the District of South Carolina. 

            According to court documents, footage viewed from CCTV inside the U.S. Capitol building depicted Rockey and Picquet entering the building on Jan. 6, 2021, via the Senate Wing Doors at approximately 2:23 p.m. Rockey appeared to be wearing a green helmet, green sweatshirt, camouflage pants, and, at times, goggles. Picquet appeared to be wearing jeans, a dark vest, and a green or beige long-sleeve shirt or sweater. After entering the Capitol, the two men are then observed in the Rotunda and later among a crowd of rioters moving toward the House Chamber and confronting a line of police officers. The crowd pushed through the police line and Rockey and Picquet continued to walk through the Capitol building, eventually exiting the building via the East Front House Doors at about 2:44 p.m. 

            After exiting the Capitol, Rockey and Picquet joined a crowd of rioters on the Northside Upper Terrace. Video footage taken at approximately 4:34 p.m. shows Rockey pushing and grabbing a Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officer's riot shield and striking the officer in the face as law enforcement attempted to clear the area.  Picquet is then seen moving up to the front of the crowd of rioters, placing his hands on the back of Rockey, grabbing his sweatshirt, and pushing him forward directly into the line of officers. Court documents say that the two men remained on the Upper Terrace and, in a separate incident, Rockey grabbed an MPD officer's baton and another officer's riot shield. 

            This case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Carolina.

            This case is being investigated by the FBI's Columbia and Washington Field Offices, which identified Rockey as BOLO (Be on the Lookout) #500 on its seeking information photos. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department.

            In the 35 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,230 individuals have been charged in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including more than 440 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.

            A complaint is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.