In a surprising turn of events, Ray Epps, a member of the mob that stormed the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, has pleaded guilty to one count of disorderly conduct in a restricted building or grounds in his Capitol riot case. Epps, a former Marine and Trump supporter, appeared virtually before Washington, D.C., chief federal judge James Boasberg on Wednesday to enter his plea. This plea comes after Epps became the focus of widespread conspiracy theories that he was a federal agent who played a role in orchestrating the violence on that fateful day.

Under federal sentencing guidelines, Epps could face between zero and six months in prison. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for December 19. As part of the plea deal, Epps acknowledged that he moved through downed police barriers on January 6 and admitted to placing his hands on a sign that was later pushed into police officers by the mob. He also admitted to saying on January 5, 2021, "We need to go into the Capitol... I'm possibly going to jail for it". These statements were captured on a livestream, where Epps can be heard saying, "I'm gonna put it out there, I'm probably gonna go to jail for this. Tomorrow, we need to go into the Capitol! Peacefully!"

In addition to his guilty plea, Epps has been ordered to pay $500 in restitution. It's important to note that there is no evidence to support the conspiracy theory claiming that Epps was a government plant working to incite violence during the protests. The FBI has repeatedly denied these claims, stating that Epps has never been an FBI source or employee.

The conspiracy theory gained traction on the right-wing news site Revolver News and was mentioned by several Fox News hosts, as well as former President Trump himself. Epps, who used to be a loyal Fox News viewer, expressed his disappointment in the network and specifically called out Tucker Carlson, who mentioned him multiple times while still with the network. Epps accused Carlson of trying to destroy his life.

Epps maintains that he went to Washington, D.C., in January 2021 because he believed the election had been stolen from Trump, and he saw it as his duty as an American to peacefully protest. However, the House committee investigating the January 6 assault has deemed the claims that Epps was an FBI informant as unsupported.

Despite the charges and Epps' guilty plea, the conspiracy theories surrounding his involvement in the Capitol riot continue to persist. During a House Judiciary Committee hearing, Attorney General Merrick Garland reiterated that Epps was not an FBI employee or informant. However, Republican Representative Thomas Massie criticized the Justice Department for offering Epps a "sweetheart deal" and called the single charge to which Epps pleaded guilty a "joke."

The aftermath of the Capitol riot has taken a toll on Epps and his family. They have faced harassment and death threats, leading them to sell their ranch and business. Epps has even filed a defamation lawsuit against Fox News, accusing the network of spreading destructive conspiracy theories and disregarding the truth.

As Epps awaits his sentencing, the question of his true role in the Capitol riot and the extent of his involvement continues to be a topic of contention. The plea agreement and guilty plea may provide some closure to this chapter, but it is unlikely to put an end to the conspiracy theories that have surrounded Epps since that fateful day.