Trump supporter Ray Epps, focus of Jan. 6 conspiracy theories, pleads guilty to misdemeanor

Sept. 20 (UPI) -- Ray Epps, a supporter of former President Donald Trump who has found himself the focus of Jan. 6 conspiracy theories, pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor Wednesday.

Epps, 62, had been offered a deal to plead guilty to a charge of disorderly or disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds for participating in the riot at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, court records obtained by UPI show.

He appeared for his court appearance Wednesday via Zoom, court documents show. He was released on the promise to return to court for future appearances and ordered to surrender his passport.

Epps additionally agreed to have his social media reviewed by law enforcement and to pay a $500 fine, The Hill reported. He is scheduled to be sentenced in a virtual court appearance Dec. 20.

In exchange for the guilty plea, prosecutors agreed not to charge Epps for other conduct related to the riot at the U.S. Capitol. Prosecutors noted that Epps has no previous criminal convictions and estimated a prison sentence of six months and a fine range of between $2,000 to $20,000.

Epps is a former Marine who traveled to Washington to protest the 2020 election, which he said he believed was stolen from Trump.

He later faced conspiracy theories, spread by former Fox News host Tucker Carlson, that alleged he was an FBI informant planted in the crowd to instigate the attack on the Capitol.

In July, Epps filed a defamation lawsuit against Fox News and Carlson, claiming he was used as a scapegoat after the violence at the Capitol, which destroyed his reputation.

The conspiracy claims Epps wasn't arrested for his involvement in the riot earlier because the Justice Department was protecting him, fueled by videos from the day before the attack showing him discussing entering the Capitol and the next day whispering into the ear of another protester during the attack.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Gordon read a statement into the record on Wednesday because of the "unusual nature of the case."

Gordon affirmed in his statement that Epps was not a confidential source or an undercover agent for the government, the FBI, DHS or any law enforcement at any point "before, during or after" the riot.