The FBI said “Proud Boy” Christopher John Worrell was arrested Thursday after being found unconscious his home in Naples. The agency said the U.S. Capitol breach case participant attempted to covertly return to his Collier County home.
The FBI confirmed they had Worrell in custody to WGCU late Thursday night.
A release from the federal law enforcement agency said agents quickly surrounded and then entered Worrell’s Collier County residence.
“They discovered the 52-year-old unconscious and immediately provided medical attention,” the release said. “Worrell was transferred to an area hospital where he remains at this time.”
The FBI said they found, in his residence, night-vision goggles, $4,000 in cash, and survivalist gear.
Worrell, a self-identified member of the Proud Boys, disappeared in early August, just days before his scheduled sentencing on charges in connection with the violence at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021.
He was wanted for violating conditions of release pending sentencing on federal charges. A federal arrest warrant was issued for Worrell on August 15, in the United States District Court, District of Columbia, Washington, D.C.
The FBI Tampa and Washington field offices thanked the Collier County Sheriff’s Office for assisting federal agents with Worrell’s arrest.
"I can confirm Christopher Worrell is in custody," Andrea Aprea, with the FBI Tampa office, told WGCU. "No further details are available at this time."
Worrell, a member of the 'Proud Boys' extremist group, was found guilty in May of multiple charges in the Jan. 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol breach.
His sentencing was cancelled and is expected to be rescheduled at some point. Prosecutors are seeking more than a decade in prison.
Worrell was found guilty of spraying pepper spray gel on police officers, as part of the mob storming the Capitol as Congress was certifying Joe Biden’s presidential victory on Jan. 6, 2021. Prosecutors had asked a judge to sentence him to 14 years.
The sentencing was canceled and a bench warrant for his arrest issued under seal, according to court records. The U.S. attorney’s office for Washington D.C. encouraged the public to share any information about his whereabouts.
The FBI confirmed earlier in September that a nationwide search was in effect for Worrell.
Additionally, the main legal representative for Worrell, Attorney William Lee Shipley, Jr. of Kailua, Hawaii, appeared earlier in September on Dan Abrams Live, on the NewsNation cable network, and spoke briefly about Worrell.
Shipley said he had not heard from his client since before he vanished and didn't know if there was an active search for Worrell.
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