EXCLUSIVE: Five Arrested Over Jan. 6, Two Fear They Are Next

'He's the one fully talking to the feds and providing them information'

Image of man with name redacted and identity obscured, suspected to be Jeremy Liggett, displaying "defensive tools" he encourages Guardians of Freedom members to bring to Washington, D.C. on January 6, 2021. Criminal complaint

Five members of what the government describes as a “militia-style” group were arrested in relation to Jan. 6, 2021. Two other members fear being arrested next.

On Aug. 24, the United States Department of Defense (DOD) Attorney’s Office issued a press release announcing the arrest of five Florida men “on charges stemming from their actions during the breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.” Posts of the arrests immediately surfaced on social media, followed by news reports.

The Arrests

According to the press release, Benjamin Cole, 38, of Leesburg, John Edward Crowley, 50, of Windermere, Brian Preller, 33, of Mount Dora, and Jonathan Rockholt, 38, of Palm Coast, Florida, were “charged with the felony offense of interfering with a law enforcement officer during a civil disorder.” A fifth defendant, 20-year-old Tyler Bensch of Casselberry, was charged with the others “with the misdemeanor offenses of entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds and disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds.”