Proud Boys Hawaiʻi chapter founder, Ochs pleads guilty in Jan. 6 US Capitol breach

Two men – including the founder of the Hawaiʻi chapter of the Proud Boys– pleaded guilty today to a felony charge for their actions during the breach of the US Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

Their actions and the actions of others disrupted a joint session of the US Congress convened to ascertain and count the electoral votes related to the presidential election.

Nicholas Ochs, 36, of Honolulu, and Nicholas DeCarlo, 32, of Fort Worth, Texas, pleaded guilty in the District of Columbia to obstruction of an official proceeding.

The US Justice Department cited court documents saying, Ochs is the founder of the Hawaiʻi chapter of the Proud Boys.

The Proud Boys describe themselves as members of a “pro-Western fraternal organization for men who refuse to apologize for creating the modern world, aka Western Chauvinists,” according to a department press release.

According to the US Justice Department, Ochs was an “Elder” within the Proud Boys, as of Jan. 6, 2021, with responsibilities including the approval of new chapters.

“Ochs traveled from Honolulu to Washington, D.C., arriving on Jan. 5. That night, he stayed at a hotel in Virginia with DeCarlo, who had traveled from Texas. The two attended a rally at the Ellipse on Jan. 6 and then marched to the Capitol, where they joined other people who were illegally on the grounds. They arrived at the West Front, near scaffolding in place for the inauguration. A line of police was attempting to keep the mob from the inaugural stage. Both men threw smoke bombs at the police line,” according to the US Justice Department.

“They then climbed the stairs to the Upper West Terrace. At approximately 2:23 p.m., Ochs and DeCarlo illegally entered the Capitol through the Senate Wing Doors. They moved through the Crypt (where they filmed themselves smoking cigarettes), Capitol Visitor’s Center, East Foyer, Statuary Hall, and the Rotunda before exiting at 3 p.m.,” the release stated.

“Then, they approached the Chestnut-Gibson Memorial Door to the Capitol. There, DeCarlo
wrote the words ‘Murder the Media’ with a marker on the door, as Ochs recorded the action,” according to the US Attorney’s Office.

“Murder the Media” was the name of the men’s social media channel, the release explained.

“DeCarlo and Ochs also rummaged through a US Capitol Police duffel bag by the Memorial Door. DeCarlo took a pair of plastic handcuffs. Walking away from the Capitol, with the building visible behind him, Ochs said, ‘sorry we couldn’t go live when we stormed the f—-in’ US Capitol and made Congress flee,'” according to the release.

Ochs was arrested on Jan. 7, 2021, in Honolulu. DeCarlo was arrested on Jan. 26, 2021, in Burleson, Texas.

The two are to be sentenced on Dec. 9, 2022.

They face a statutory maximum of 20 years in prison for obstruction of an official proceeding, as well as potential financial penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the US Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The 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 Offices for the Northern District of Texas and the
District of Hawaii.
The case is being investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office, as well as the Fort Worth
Resident Agency of the FBI’s Dallas Field Office, and the FBI’s Honolulu Field Office. Valuable
assistance has been provided by the Metropolitan Police Department and the U.S. Capitol Police.
In the 20 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 870 individuals have been arrested in nearly
all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including over 265 individuals
charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement. The investigation remains ongoing.
Anyone with tips can call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or visit tips.fbi.gov.