Troy Anthony Smocks of Dallas is behind bars in Fannin County facing federal charges of threats in interstate commerce.
In a criminal complaint, investigators point to disturbing posts Smocks, 58, made on social media site Parler under the name ColonelTPerez.
On Jan. 6, Smocks wrote of "patriots" arriving in Washington by the millions.
In the post he writes:
“IF WE MUST, Many of us will return on January 19th, 2021, carrying our weapons in support of Our nation’s resolve, to which the world will never forget. We will come in numbers that no standing army or police agency can match.”
The next day, Smocks posted again calling on followers to “prepare their weapons” and hunt down those who he calls “traitors" including Democrats.
He went on to say:
"Today, the cowards ran as we took the Capital. They have it back now, only because we left. It wasn't the building that we wanted... it was them!"
According to the affidavit, both posts were viewed tens of thousands of times.
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It also alleges Smocks made a flight reservation to leave the country Friday morning before he was arrested.
Smocks first faced federal charges back in 2006 when he was convicted for creating a false identity and bank fraud for forging documents including a pilot’s license, social security card and armed forces ID card.
At the time of his federal conviction, Smocks was already serving a 34-year sentence for unrelated state convictions for stealing and forgery in Missouri, according to court documents.
In 2010, he sued the federal government, naming Barack Obama, Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid as defendants. In the suit, he challenged whether anti-terrorism law is constitutional.
Friday, Matthew DeSarno, the special agent in charge of the FBI’s Dallas field office said the agency's received more than 100,000 tips leading them to people like Smocks, Frisco realtor Jenna Ryan who turned herself in Friday and Larry Brock Jr. of Grapevine, who was photographed walking the capitol with zip ties.
“Tipsters have turned in their friends, neighbors and relatives, all increasingly radicalized by inflammatory rhetoric. Thank you for bravely coming forward and providing information,” DeSarno said.
Across the country, the FBI has opened more than 275 cases related to the riot.
“We do not tolerate violent agitators and extremists who use the guise of first amendment protected activity to incite violence and wreak havoc," DeSarno said.
Though DeSarno wouldn't say how many more arrests he expected, he said the bureau is nowhere near the end of this, saying he hopes this serves as a message for others involved to turn themselves in.
