Record at a Glance
- Category
- Jan 6th
- Age in NPR record
- 51
- Location
- Washington, D.C.
- Charges
- Civil Disorder; Theft of Government Property; 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; Parading, Demonstrating, or Picketing in a Capitol Building
- Case status
- Pleaded not guilty; Convicted; Acquitted in part or full; Sentenced
- Presidential action
- Pardon
Case Summary
Darrell Neely works for the Global Enlightenment Radio Network, court documents state. The network's website says that it supports "knowledge enhanced by factual truth" and features shows titled The Martian Revelation and America's Cannabis Conversation. Prosecutors allege that Neely breached the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, and can be seen on video smoking a "marijuana cigarette" inside the building. According to court documents filed in the case, multiple witnesses said they had spoken by phone and video calls with Neely while he was in and around the Capitol, and he allegedly told those witnesses that he had taken items from the building, including China plates as well as a Capitol Police officer's jacket, hat and badge. Prosecutors allege that Neely later uploaded a video to YouTube, in which he discussed the events of Jan. 6, 2021, while wearing a Capitol Police hat. According to court documents, FBI agents interviewed Neely twice, and Neely admitted to entering the Capitol building, because, Neely allegedly said, he felt the events were newsworthy. Neely also allegedly provided photos he took from inside the building to the FBI and showed agents videos he had taken during the riot. Neely served in and exited the U.S. Navy in 1994, according to a Navy spokesperson. He was arrested on Oct. 18, 2021.
Case History
Neely pleaded Not Guilty to all charges. In a Bench trial on 5/25/2023, he was found Not Guilty on one charge; Civil Disorder. Found Guilty on the remaining charges. Sentenced on 9/5/2023 to 28 months incarceration; 12 months supervised release; Special assessment of $95; Restitution of $844.93. Neely received a full pardon on January 20, 2025
Sources
- Primary Documentation
NPR Jan. 6 Defendant DatabaseNPR - Primary Documentation
Underlying court recordCourt record linked by NPR
Case summary, charges, procedural updates and image are drawn from the NPR Jan. 6 archive snapshot dated 2026-09-25 unless otherwise indicated.