Monday, February 1, 2021

FAFO: Fuck Around and Find Out

  

DOMINIC “SPAZZO” PEZZOLA was said to have been one of the first to smash a window, using a police shield, and enter the Capitol. Then others poured through, opened doors, and let the mob stream through. The road to his arrest began with a story in Vice, which helped identify the suspect, noting that “Spazzo” had previously attended a Proud Boys rally in D.C. on December 12.

 


Vice was founded, ironically, by a co-founder of the Boys, who left the website in 2008 and created the Proud Boys in 2016. They described the group as “a far-right street-fighting gang,” and explained how they planned the attack in advance.

 

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“They would have killed Mike Pence if they had a chance.” 

Witness 1

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Their self-styled “chairman,” Enrique Tarrio, had ordered the Proud Boys to go “incognito” and dress in plain clothes, so while they were central to the planning, inciting, and execution of the insurrection that led to five deaths, their role was not immediately obvious from the video disseminated from the scene.

 

In a stream from before the rally, Joe Biggs, a former InfoWars staffer who led the Proud Boys in Tarrio’s absence, reiterated the plan for the group not to wear their traditional colors. 

 

“We will not be attending D.C. in colors. We will be blending in as one of you. You won’t see us. You’ll even think we are you,” Biggs said. “We are going to smell like you, move like you, and look like you. The only thing we’ll do that’s us is think like us! Jan 6th is gonna be epic.”

 

Tarrio never made it to Washington. He was arrested on the way and slapped with an assortment of misdemeanor and felony charges. According to Vice, many of the other Proud Boys were in position and ready, even before Trump finished inciting the crowd. In several videos, two alleged leaders of the group, “both accessorized with walkie-talkies,” pass along instruction to about 60 Proud Boys already positioned to storm Capitol Hill. Those waiting for the storm amuse themselves by chanting ‘Fuck antifa!’ and ‘Whose streets? Our streets.’”

 

According to Vice, an internet search (a specialty of people who work for their website), turned up a page on Parler, which had “Spazzo” describing himself as “a first-degree Proud Boy” and a Marine vet. In an undated picture he is allegedly seen in a Proud Boys shirt. Another image shows a bulletproof vest with “Proud Boy,” “Spazzo,” a marine flag patch, and a “FAFO” patch.

 

“FAFO” stands for “Fuck Around and Find Out.” 

 

Pezzola is also said to have the tattoo “0351” on his right arm, signifying that at some point he served as a Marine infantryman.

 

Since the Jan. 6 riot, the F.B.I. had posted images of “Spazzo in and around the Capitol in an attempt to garner tips from the public. Arrest soon followed. Authorities note in the charging document that Pezzola is visible in a video taken after rioters broke into the Capitol. “Victory smoke in the Capitol, boys. This is fucking awesome,” he can be heard saying. “I knew we could take this motherfucker over [if we] just tried hard enough.”

 

A witness referred to by the F.B.I. as “Witness-1” told agents that she spoke to “Spaz” who allegedly “bragged about breaking the windows to the Capitol and entering the building.”

 

In an ominous note, the F.B.I. added that “W-1 further stated that members of this group, which included ‘Spaz,’ said that they would have killed [Vice President] Mike Pence if given the chance.”

 

According to VICE, Pezzola enlisted in the Marines after high school. Former classmates describe him as an “aloof, angry guy” who picked fights at parties.

 

“Out of everyone in our class, I would have picked him out as a domestic terrorist,” one classmate said.

 

This blogger happens to be a former Marine, and no disrespect to the Corps. He would note that his MOS, or Military Occupational Specialty was not 0351, but the far less dangerous 3041. Meaning he was a “supply administrative man,” which he has always considered wimpy and unheroic. He did, however, volunteer in 1969 to go to Vietnam and fight. Twice! For ridiculous reasons he was never sent, which he eventually decided was probably for the best.

 

Nevertheless, he would argue that he’s a better patriot than possibly everyone listed in these several parts of the story of January 6.

 

Including President Trump.

 

Fox News noted the arrest of several North Carolina men, including Thomas Gronek, who was charged with several crimes, “including carrying a pistol without a license, possession of a large capacity ammunition device and possession of unregistered ammunition.” Gronek had the honor of getting arrested the day before the riot, when a bus in which he was riding, painted in psychedelic colors, and tagged with slogans like “Hippies 4 Trump” in red, and “Stop the Steal” in white, was pulled over by Washington D.C. cops. According to a second report, Gronek was also carrying a rifle, “a large-capacity feeding device,” and more than 300 rounds of ammunition.

 

Just what any patriot would need to “Stop the Steal.”

 

The driver of the bus was also arrested and charged with operating a vehicle without a proper driver’s permit.

 

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I LOOKED HIGH AND LOW every day, for any evidence that the people who rioted on Capitol Hill weren’t really Trump supporters and extreme right-wing types.

 

It was clear this had been a planned attack, that many who took part believed they were answering the call from the President of the United States. It was a right-wing spasm of violence, incited in large part by Donald Trump.

 

Robert Bauer, a Kentucky man, got his own pair of cuffs after authorities arrested him for his role in the mayhem. Bauer told F.B.I. agents that on having broken in, a police officer shook his hand and said, “It’s your house now.” He told agents he and his wife traveled to D.C. to hear the president speak. Like many of the protesters, Bauer had at least some vague notion that he was acting on orders from Donald J. Trump. He told investigators he remembered the president saying, “something about taking Pennsylvania Avenue.” So off he went. Also arrested with Bauer, his cousin Edward Hemenway, who lives in Virginia. “According to an affidavit written by Special Agent Jennifer Whitaker, Bauer reiterated that he marched to the U.S. Capitol because President Trump said to do so.”

 

Savannah, Georgia’s WSAV TV did a piece on Dominic Box, a local man, filmed during the attack. On his return home he was fired from his job at Vaden Automotive. “Box,” reporters noted, “has been an outspoken supporter of QAnon and spoke to News 3 in August 2020 during a “Save the Children” rally in Savannah, which he organized.

 

To the extent that Mr. Box said his group was interested in stopping child sex-trafficking, you could get behind his cause.

 

When you delved into details and got to the “liberal cannibal’s controlling the world” part, you lost sane people quick.

 

Cincinnati.com took a turn at presenting the truth, reporting on another suspect, Justin Stoll, 40, of Wilmington, Ohio. In court documents charging him with several federal crimes, Stoll was said to have posted videos of himself inside the Capitol. “D.C.’s a war zone!” he allegedly shouts. “You ain’t got enough cops, baby! We are at war at the Capitol…We have taken the Capitol. This is our country.”

 

Before going to Washington, authorities say, Stoll posted several statements about the upcoming rally and protest. In one, he referred to those opposed to Trump as “enemy combatants” who should be “shot on sight.”

 

The charges Friday are not directly related to Stoll’s activities at the Capitol but are instead connected to threats he made days later to people who expressed alarm about his role in the riot.

 

“If you ever jeopardize me, from being with my family, you will absolutely meet your mother f------ maker,” Stoll wrote, according to the complaint. “And I will be the one to arrange the meeting.”

 

According to reporters,

 

Stoll’s Facebook page is filled with posts critical of Democrats, abortion-rights advocates, CNN, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, liberal “snowflakes” and Black Lives Matter. His profile photo appears above the word “Trump.”

 

He also wrote on his Facebook profile that “if you are a POS Democrat and you hate America do not send me a friend request. you are beneath me.”

 

According to his business Facebook page, Stoll is a house painter specializing in residential interiors. Stoll’s family members either could not be reached or declined comment. 

 

I think it’s safe to say this story will not increase your desire to hire Mr. Stoll to come to your house and paint a few rooms if you are a Democrat.

 

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