More than two months after his wife was charged with four Jan. 6-related misdemeanors, Spencer Sidney Geller has been charged by federal prosecutors with five counts, including helping to push over the first police barricades on the U.S. Capitol’s west front.
Mr. Geller was charged in a federal criminal complaint in Washington with felony obstruction of law enforcement during civil disorder and four misdemeanors: entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly conduct in a Capitol building, and parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building.
On May 9, his wife, Jennifer Inzunza Vargas Geller, was charged in a criminal complaint with entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly conduct in the Capitol grounds or buildings, and parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building.
A woman at the time known only as “Pink Beret” at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. (U.S. District Court-Open Source Video/Screenshots via The Epoch Times)Ms. Vargas Geller has drawn widespread attention both for her alleged behavior on Jan. 6 and her distinctive outfit, topped by a stylish pink beret.
For more than two years, she was not listed as wanted by the FBI. In February, Ms. Vargas Geller was mentioned in a motion by defense attorney Kira West as an alleged provocateur who lured her client, Darrell Neely, into the Capitol on Jan. 6.
On April 27, the FBI listed the still-unidentified Pink Beret on its Jan. 6 most-wanted page as No. 537.
The husband-and-wife criminal cases are unusual because the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and the FBI announced charges against the couple before any arrests were made. Typically, a federal magistrate will seal a Jan. 6 criminal case, then make the records public after the defendant is arrested.
According to independent journalist Steve Baker, the Gellers both left the United States and are living in Thailand with their 9-month-old daughter.
Spencer Geller (yellow box) was among protesters pushing over police barricades at the first breach on Jan. 6, 2021. (FBI/Screenshot via The Epoch Times)It’s unclear if the FBI or U.S. Marshals will pursue apprehension of the couple, however. Neither is listed in the FBI’s fugitives database, although Ms. Vargas Geller is featured on the Jan. 6 web page.
The Epoch Times contacted the FBI and Interpol to see if the Gellers would be arrested and extradited to the United States but did not receive replies by press time.
A few days after Ms. Vargas Geller’s photos were released by the FBI in April, a tipster who identified himself as a former boyfriend provided her name, age, telephone number, and home address, prosecutors said.
Based on a review of open-source video, the FBI said Mr. Geller was among the protesters who pushed over the bicycle-rack barricades that served as the police line near the Peace Monument at around 12:50 p.m. on Jan. 6.
The FBI said it did not find any social media posts or photographs by Mr. Geller showing he went into the Capitol. Nor did agents find geolocation data for phones associated with Mr. Geller at the Capitol that day.
Ms. Vargas Geller is seen on open source and CCTV video near the first breach point. After the barricades were breached, she sprinted in high heels across the west lawn to get to the Capitol.
Jennifer Inzunza Vargas Geller and her husband, Spencer Geller, in the Jan. 6 crowd at the U.S. Capitol in 2021. (FBI/Screenshot via The Epoch Times)Defense attorney West alleged in her defense motion that Ms. Vargas Geller lured her client into the Capitol. She allegedly collected equipment belonging to police officers in the Crypt and handed them to Mr. Neely, who returned the equipment to a police officer, according to West.
Ms. West wrote that Ms. Vargas Geller was seen elsewhere outside and inside the Capitol, alone and with other individuals. On the Upper West Terrace, she stood atop a small staircase “directing people like [conductor Arturo] Toscanini into the Capitol,” West alleged.
“Mr. Neely’s entry into the Capitol was directed by Pink Beret,” Ms. West contended in the court filing. “She had associates in the building that day and seemed to have information well beyond that of a normal citizen there to protest.”
After a May bench trial, Mr. Neely was found guilty by U.S. District Judge John Bates of theft of government property, entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly conduct in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly conduct in a Capitol building, and parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building. He was acquitted of civil disorder.
Mr. Neely will be sentenced on Sept. 5 in Washington.