Four people form the core chain of custody.

Described himself as a “19-year-old political commentator and activist” in Florida. Told the House Select Committee he created a 3–5 page notes-style document with Google Maps screenshots between August and September 2020, after seeing a “TIP document.” Shared it with Flores via Google Drive.

Also known as “Eryk-A” (SMS contact in Tarrio’s phone), “Eryka — BYOBank” (Telegram), and “Eryka —” (post-Feb 2021). Created the 1776 Returns DOCX in a 125-minute editing session on Dec 29–30, 2020. Sent it to Tarrio on Dec 30 at 12:53 PM. Called herself “executor and benefitor of my brilliance.”

Chairman of the Proud Boys. Received the 1776 Returns document via Telegram on Dec 30, 2020. Convicted of seditious conspiracy in May 2023 and sentenced to 22 years. The document was central to the government’s case that Tarrio coordinated an occupation plan for January 6.

Proud Boys member charged alongside Tarrio. Testified at trial that he had never seen the 1776 Returns document before it was shown to him in court. The government produced a February 2022 rasterized PDF in discovery, not the original native DOCX or any evidence of the document’s provenance.

Proud Boys chapter president and one of four defendants convicted alongside Tarrio. The government case against him cited the 1776 Returns document as evidence of coordinated planning. Sentenced to 18 years.

Proud Boys member who pleaded guilty to seditious conspiracy and cooperated with the government. His testimony about the Proud Boys’ planning and communications was used to corroborate the document’s role in the conspiracy.