Montanan charged in Capitol riot said he was there for ‘insurrection’

The fifth Montanan charged in the Jan. 6 riot at the United States Capitol is also a licensed real estate agent and developer of the Philipsburg Guest Ranch.

Boyd Allen Camper of Montana has been charged with four crimes for his part in the Capitol riots, according to the complaint and arrest warrant filed in the U.S. District Court in the District of Columbia.

Following Camper’s arrest, some of the Facebook pages of the Philipsburg Guest Ranch were deleted, but the telephone number advertised for it goes to a phone and voicemail. Camper identifies himself in the message. Messages left there last week by the Daily Montanan were not returned as of Thursday.

Camper also has an active real estate sales license, which was issued in 2019 and expires on Oct. 31. Camper lists his address in Helena, according to the Montana Department of Labor and Industry. Because the real estate license is just for sales, he must be supervised by a broker, Terri McGillis of Real Estate Montana and Company. That firm is in Missoula.

Calls this week to McGillis’ office and cell phone also were not returned.

Camper lists himself as the owner of Equity Homes LLC Boyd Camper. His biography reads: “I have successfully flipped for profit over 200 residential properties. I know first hand what it takes to be an investor and the hard work required for a successful track record. Recently licensed in Montana. I am an exclusive Investors agent. Joint Venture, Wholesale and buyer representation opportunities currently available. If your (sic) in need of a no nonsense agent to sell or bring you deals, I’m your guy. I offer a Foreclosure Auction service enabling you to buy at auction or before. With over 200 foreclosure deals successfully flipped for profit, my proven system works. I am also seeking capital investors to partner with me on deals.”

Camper’s targeted communities for his business are Butte, Hamilton, Helena, Kalispell and Missoula.

An FBI special agent said in court documents that Camper traveled to the Capitol with “a group of associates.” The statement of facts said that he was recorded inside the Capitol on security footage and he was seen on other footage posted to an unnamed social media outlet. He also told the CBS Evening News that he was there, after the Capitol had been secured.

He told the reporter there, “I was on the front line. We’re going to take this damn place. If you haven’t heard, it’s called the Insurrection Act, and we the people are ready.”

One of the witnesses interviewed by the FBI special agent posted a 21-second video to social media, showing Camper’s participation, according to the court document.

During the riot, Camper, shown in a blue coat and camouflaged “Trump 2020” hat, was using a “selfie-stick” and camera. When FBI agents interviewed Camper on Jan. 21, he admitted to being in the Capitol and told agents, “in my mind we were going to take the Capitol steps.”

Those interviews, wrapped into court records, show that Camper admitted he was in possession of a “Go-Pro” camera. He also told agents that the contents of that camera would implicate him.

“He stated that he would not allow law enforcement to review the contents of the Go-Pro camera unless law enforcement confirmed that they would not use the contents of the Go-Pro camera against him,” court documents said.

According to the criminal complaint, Camper is charged with knowingly entering a restricted building or grounds without lawful authority; knowingly engaging in disorderly or disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds; engaging in disorderly or disruptive conduct on the Capitol building; and parading, demonstrating or picketing in the capitol buildings.”