Justice Department seeks 33 years in prison for ex-Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio in Jan. 6 case
The Justice Department is seeking 33 years in prison for Enrique Tarrio, former leader of the Proud Boys convicted of seditious conspiracy in one of the most serious cases since January 6, 2021, Attack on the US Capitolaccording to court documents filed Thursday.
Tarrio, who once served as the far-right group’s national chairman, and three lieutenants were convicted by a Washington jury in May of conspiring to block the presidential transfer of power in hopes of keeping Republican Donald Trump in the White House after him lost the 2020 election.
Prosecutors are also seeking a 33-year sentence for one of Tarrio’s co-defendants, Joseph Biggs of Ormond Beach, Fla., who describes himself as the Proud Boys organizer.
They are asking the judge to hand down a 30-year sentence for Zachary Rehl, who was president of the Proud Boys group in Philadelphia; 27 years in prison for Ethan Nordean of Auburn, Washington, who was a chapter president of the Proud Boys; and 20 years for Dominic Pezzola, a Proud Boys member from Rochester, New York. Pezzola was acquitted of seditious conspiracy but convicted of other serious charges.
Miami resident Tarrio and his co-defendants will be convicted before US District Judge Timothy Kelly in a series of hearings beginning later this month in federal court in Washington.
It’s the same courthouse as Trump pleaded not guilty this month in the case filed by Special Counsel Jack Smith, accusing the Republican of illegally plotting to undermine the will of voters to make up for his loss to Democrat Joe Biden. Trump has denied any wrongdoing.
Tarrio, who was not involved in the Jan. 6 riots himself, and his three lieutenants were also convicted on two of the same charges Trump faces: obstructing congressional confirmation of Biden’s victory and conspiring to obstruct congress.
The Proud Boys will become the second group of right-wing extremists to be convicted of seditious conspiracy in the January 6 attack. Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes was convicted in May 18 years in prison, and other members of the anti-government militia group also received lengthy prison terms.
prosecutors, however appeal against these sentences, which were lower than the government had aimed for. Prosecutors had asked US District Judge Amit Mehta to sentence Rhodes to 25 years in prison.
Tarrio was a prime target of what is now the largest Justice Department investigation in American history. He was leading the neo-fascist group known for street fighting with left-wing activists when Trump infamously called on the Proud Boys to do so “Step back and stand by” during his first debate with Biden.
Tarrio was not in Washington on Jan. 6, having been arrested on another case two days earlier and expelled from the capital. However, prosecutors claimed he organized and directed the attack by the Proud Boys, who stormed the Capitol that day.
During the months-long trial, prosecutors argued that the Proud Boys They considered themselves foot soldiers fighting for Trump while the Republican spread lies that the Democrats stole the election from him and were willing to go to war to keep their favorite leader in power.
Defense attorneys argued there was no conspiracy or plan to attack the Capitol and attempted to portray the Proud Boys as a disorganized drinking club whose members had committed an impromptu act in the riot fueled by Trump’s campaign anger. Tarrio’s lawyers tried to argue that Trump was responsible for blackmailing a crowd outside the White House to ” Fight like hell.”