Bench warrant unsealed for arrest of East Naples man convicted in Capitol insurrection

Tomas Rodriguez, Naples Daily News
Updated ·5 min read
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Authorities unsealed an arrest warrant for Christopher Worrell, of East Naples, late Thursday.

Worrell, 52, was convicted of the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol insurrection with his sentencing scheduled for Friday, which was canceled earlier in the week.

Christopher Worrell, under terms of house arrest, requires permission to leave his East Naples home. Here he spoke at an April 26, 2023 meeting of the Collier County Board of Commissioners, saying he is a "political prisoner." On Thursday, Aug. 17, 2023, authorities announced he is missing and have issued a warrant for his arrest. He was to be sentenced for his role in the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol insurrection on Friday.

U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia officials unsealed the document, which was issued Tuesday. It did not include details related to his disappearance. The FBI acknowledged Thursday that agents were searching for him.

Court records indicate the sentencing for Worrell will be rescheduled before U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth. Andrea Aprea, spokesperson for the FBI, referred further questions to the U.S. Attorney's Office. The U.S. Attorney's Office did not respond to inquiries.

The FBI did not respond as to how long Worrell has been missing or what prompted the search. Worrell has been on house arrest in East Naples since he was released from custody November 2021 in Washington, D.C.

On Jan. 6, 2021, after President Donald Trump's reelection loss, a mob of his supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol Building. The mob hoped to prevent Congress from counting electoral college votes and keep then-President-elect Joe Biden from power.

A video of the attack appeared to show Worrell and others accused of storming the building, attacking police officers, breaking building windows and wreaking other damage.

Worrell had pleaded not guilty to 19 counts linked to the riot. His trial took 10 days, with the verdict delivered by Lamberth on May 12.

Lamberth found Worrell guilty of seven counts:

  • Obstruction of an official proceeding.

  • Entering or remaining in a restricted building or grounds with a deadly or dangerous weapon.

  • Disorderly or disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds with a deadly or dangerous weapon.

  • Engaging in physical violence in a restricted building or grounds with a deadly or dangerous weapon.

  • Act of physical violence in the U.S. Capitol grounds or buildings.

  • Civil disorder.

  • Assaulting, resisting or impeding certain officers using a dangerous weapon.

His girlfriend and court-appointed guardian, Trish Priller, who used to work for the Naples Daily News, couldn't immediately be reached for comment. The courts gave Priller the responsibility to watch over Worrell after his release from custody in Washington, D.C.

It's not known if she would face any penalty in relation to the disappearance.

Collier County Sheriff's Office referred questions to the FBI. The U.S. Department of Justice also did respond to requests for comment.

Authorities unsealed an arrest warrant for Christopher Worrell, of East Naples, late Thursday. Worrell, 52, was convicted of the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol insurrection with his sentencing scheduled for Friday, which was canceled earlier in the week. A federal judge signed off on a warrant for his arrest, made public Thursday, Aug. 17, 2023.
Authorities unsealed an arrest warrant for Christopher Worrell, of East Naples, late Thursday. Worrell, 52, was convicted of the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol insurrection with his sentencing scheduled for Friday, which was canceled earlier in the week. A federal judge signed off on a warrant for his arrest, made public Thursday, Aug. 17, 2023.

The FBI has issued a warrant for violated conditions of release pending sentencing. He's one of six people wanted by federal authorities related to the mob.

Christopher Worrell among six on FBI radar for roles in the Capitol mob

  • Worrell's disappearance marks the six person linked to the Capitol mob on the FBI's radar. He joins:

  • Evan Neumann, 51, was indicted on Dec. 10, 2021, on 14 counts, including engaging in physical violence in a restricted building or grounds with a deadly or dangerous weapon; civil disorder; and assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers. He was initially charged in a criminal complaint filed on March 23, 2021. A federal arrest warrant was issued for Neumann in the U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C. on Dec. 10, 2021. Authorities say he fled from the U.S. on Feb. 16, 2021, and is currently believed to be in Belarus.

  • A federal arrest warrant was issued for Jonathan Daniel Pollock, 24, in Washington, D.C., on June 25, 2021, after he was charged with assaulting, resisting or impeding certain officers or employees; aiding and abetting; theft of government property; restricted building or grounds without lawful authority; and violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds. Authorities say he's believed to be with family or friends in central and north Florida, as well as in Georgia; South Carolina; North Carolina; Tennessee; or Texas.

  • A federal arrest warrant was issued for Olivia Michele Pollock in Washington, D.C., on June 25, 2021, after she was charged with assaulting, resisting or impeding certain officers or employees; aiding and abetting; restricted building or grounds without lawful authority; and violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds. Authorities say she's believed to be in the Asheville, North Carolina area; South Carolina; Tennessee; Texas; Alabama; Georgia; or north and central Florida.

  • Joseph Daniel Hutchinson III, 27, was charged on June 25, 2021, with assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers or employees; aiding and abetting; restricted building or grounds without lawful authority; and violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds. He's believed to be in the Asheville, North Carolina area; South Carolina; Tennessee; Texas; Alabama; Georgia; or north and central Florida.

  • Adam Villarreal, 39, was allegedly at the tunnel at the west front terrace attempting to make access into the main part of the building and was met by officers who he then allegedly assaulted. He's charged with assaulting, resisting or impeding certain officers using a dangerous weapon or inflicting bodily injury; 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; impeding passage through the Capitol grounds or buildings; and act of physical violence in the Capitol grounds or buildings. Authorities say he has ties to California, Oregon, Washington state and Oklahoma.

Prosecutors have asked for 14 years in prison for Worrell

On Aug. 10, attorney William Shipley, who represented Worrell at trial, asked the court impose two-and-a-half years in home detention, citing medical complications Worrell has faced since he was charged in the mob.

Worrell has argued the U.S. Government and D.C. Jail systems denied access to his life-saving non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma cancer treatment, or any medications since his detention on March 12, 2021.

In response, the Department of Justice on Sunday asked U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth to sentence Worrell to 14 years years in prison; three years of supervised release; $2,000 in restitution; a fine of up to $181,000; and $610 in mandatory special assessments, which are imposed on defendants convicted of federal crimes.

Tomas Rodriguez is a Breaking/Live News Reporter for the Naples Daily News and The News-Press. You can reach Tomas at TRodriguez@gannett.com or 772-333-5501. Connect with him on Threads @tomasfrobeltran, Instagram @tomasfrobeltran, Facebook @tomasrodrigueznews and Twitter @TomasFRoBeltran.

This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Bench warrant issued for Christopher Worrell's arrest; FBI searches