A man facing charges in the Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol riot may have violated the conditions of his bond last month by attempting to have an overseas shipment of knives and axes delivered to his Ladera Ranch home, according to federal prosecutors.
Russell Taylor, 41, is charged with conspiracy, obstruction, entering and remaining in a restricted building, and unlawful possession of a dangerous weapon on Capitol grounds. He is currently under house arrest.
Taylor is among several Orange County residents, including former La Habra Police Chief Alan Hostetter, who are accused of participating in the Capitol riot to block votes certifying the election of President Joe Biden.
Taylor is seeking permission to remove a GPS ankle monitor that he maintains is causing excessive leg swelling and painful lesions, according to a motion filed earlier this month in U.S. District Court.
The FBI learned on June 21 that a pair of knives and axes shipped from a foreign vendor were en route to Taylor’s home in possible violation of his bond conditions prohibiting him from possessing firearms, destructive devices or other weapons, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said in a motion.
“Given that the content of this cargo shipment appears to constitute a violation of that condition, the government now respectfully notifies the court of the potential violation,” prosecutors said. “The government has also reported this information to the probation department.”
Additionally, Taylor claims in a motion he canceled the delivery of the axes and knives that he asserts were intended to be given away as prizes to winners of four-wheel drive road rallies sponsored by a company that employs him.
“Mr. Taylor never had any intention to own or keep these items,” the motion says. “They were strictly and only to be given to people, other than Taylor, at the pending events.”
Taylor’s attorney, Dyke Huish, said Friday the government’s contention about the canceled shipment is inconsequential. “On first blush, it looks inappropriate, but when it was investigated it was cleared up completely,” he said. “It was a misunderstanding. It’s not an issue.”
What do you do when you’re a rich white dude on house arrest facing conspiracy charges for the J6 insurrection?
You start a new business.
Russell ( Russ ) Taylor will be leading off road vehicles on an adventure scavenger hunt that ends with a catered dinner & DJ “after party”. pic.twitter.com/34eLTKshiu
— InMinivanHell (@inminivanhell) March 4, 2022
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Taylor could not be reached for comment.
The federal grand jury indictment alleges Taylor allegedly joined rioters who were pushing through a line of law enforcement officers. Taylor also is accused of carrying a knife in a vest pocket and urging the rioters on before pushing through a police line and upstairs in the Capitol onto a terrace.
Prosecutors say Taylor on Jan. 5 posted a photo on an encrypted messaging service showing “gear” arranged on a bed, including two hatchets, a stun baton and a knife, along with a caption reading, “Now getting ready for tomorrow.”
Additionally, on the day of the uprising, he allegedly took a “selfie-style video” and said, “We are on the move. Heading up to the Capitol” as demonstrators walked along Pennsylvania Avenue.
Taylor was part of The California Patriots-DC Brigade, a social media chat group that he described as being “exclusive to be utilized to organize a group of fighters to have each other’s backs and ensure that no one will trample on our rights,” according to the indictment.
The day before the Capitol attack, Taylor allegedly co-sponsored a pro-Trump rally near the Supreme Court where he and others addressed supporters.
“In these streets we will fight and we will bleed,” said Russ Taylor, American Phoenix Project member, on Jan 5 at Virginia Women for Trump rally.
Per court docs, Taylor brought body armor, 2 hatchets, walkie talkie, stun baton, helmet, knife, bear spray & goggles.#DCBrigade pic.twitter.com/BZcfdB2okm
— InMinivanHell (@inminivanhell) November 24, 2021
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Additionally, a month before the violent attack on the Capitol, Taylor issued a prophetic warning to the Orange County Board of Supervisors.
“Week after week, I and others are with thousands in the street all up and down the state of California,” Taylor said during a December 2020 board meeting. “You know what they are saying? Revolution. Storm the capitols.”
Huish described Taylor as a “normal guy” who holds deep-seated beliefs and is misunderstood. “He is not part of a militia, for heaven’s sake,” said the attorney.
The court will consider Taylor’s bond modification request during a hearing set for Thursday.
Source: Orange County Register
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