It marked the first time prosecutors brought seditious conspiracy charges against defendants in the attack. The crime is defined as attempting "to overthrow, put down or to destroy by force the government of the United States."
Prosecutors said that beginning in late December 2020, Rhodes used private encrypted communications to plan to travel to Washington on Jan. 6 and that he and others planned to bring weapons to the area to help support the operation.
Supporters of former President Donald Trump that day stormed the Capitol in a failed bid to stop Congress from certifying his election loss to President Joe Biden.
While some of the Oath Keeper members rushed inside the building wearing tactical gear, others remained stationed outside in what they deemed "quick-response force" teams, which were prepared to rapidly transport arms into the city, prosecutors said.
The Oath Keepers are a loosely organized group of activists who believe that the federal government is encroaching on their rights, and focus on recruiting current and former police, emergency services and military members.
Rhodes spoke to Reuters in 2016.
"One thing the left needs to understand is the right wing is extremely well armed in this country...and if they have control of the military you can end up with a military dictatorship pretty easily."
Seditious conspiracy is a felony carrying a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. Nine of the 11 defendants were already facing other charges.
