By Sarah N. Lynch

WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – Stewart Rhodes is scheduled to appear in a Plano federal court on Friday. He will be facing seditious conspiracy allegations for his alleged involvement in the Jan. 6th, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol.

Rhodes and 10 other associates or members of the group were accused by the Justice Department in an indictment unsealed on Thursday https://www.reuters.com/world/us/fbi-arrests-far-right-militia-group-oath-keepers-leader-jan-6-probe-nyt-2022-01-13 of plotting to storm the Capitol by force, in a failed bid to block Congress from certifying President Joe Biden’s 2020 election victory.

Rhodes, who is among more than 725 people charged with taking part in an attack on the Capitol that was organized by Trump supporters, is perhaps the most prominent defendant. Trump falsely claimed that his defeat in the election was due to fraud, fueling the riot.

This is also the first indictment in which prosecutors have ever charged someone in connection with the attacks with seditious conspiracies. These can result in a maximum sentence of 20 years imprisonment.

Rhodes created the Oath Keepers to protest the government’s infringing on their rights. The Oath Keepers is made up mainly of retired and current law enforcement and military officers.

The indictment portrays Rhodes as a ringleader who warned his members to prepare for a “bloody and desperate fight https://www.reuters.com/world/us/a-bloody-desperate-fight-us-prosecutors-release-oath-keepers-communications-2022-01-13” to prevent Democrat Joe Biden from becoming president.

He was credited with helping to rally the members of the group to Washington, and he also played an important role in organizing logistics and setting up the groups’ headquarters. This included the creation of “quick response force” teams to store firearms beyond the city boundaries.

Indictment states that Rhodes also spent thousands on weapons and gear, such as an AR-15 rifle and night vision goggles, and ammunition.

Rhodes was listed as an attorney by his lawyer. He said that he was detained on Thursday by the FBI at Granbury, Texas. He has yet to plead guilty.

At 2:30 PM CT (23:30 GMT), he will appear before the court.