Ex-Proud Boys Head Enrique Tarrio Sentenced To 22 Years In Prison—Longest Jan. 6 Sentence Yet

Forbes Business Breaking Ex-Proud Boys Head Enrique Tarrio Sentenced To 22 Years In Prison—Longest Jan. 6 Sentence Yet Molly Bohannon Forbes Staff I cover breaking news. Following Sep 5, 2023, 06:03pm EDT | Press play to listen to this article! Got it! Updated Sep 5, 2023, 06:18pm EDT Share to Facebook Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Topline Former Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio was sentenced to 22 years in prison on Tuesday for his role in organizing followers of former President Donald Trump to attack the Capitol on January 6, 2021, marking the longest sentence yet for involvement in the January 6 riots.

Enrique Tarrio, former leader of the Proud Boys, was sentenced to 22 years in prison Tuesday for his . . .

[+] role in the January 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) Getty Images Key Facts The Justice Department requested a 33-year sentence after prosecutors argued Tarrio and three other Proud Boys “unleashed a force on the Capitol that was calculated to exert their political will on elected officials by force and to undo the results of a democratic election. ” Tarrio’s attorneys, however, said he should get a lesser sentence because he cooperated with law enforcement for several undercover drug investigations after a 2012 fraud conviction, and because his mental health has suffered while in jail.

He wasn’t actually present at the riot as he was arrested two days prior, but prosecutors argued he organized and directed the attack on the Capitol, playing a key role. When announcing the sentencing, Judge Timothy J. Kelly said Tarrio had committed a “serious offense,” was the “ultimate leader of that conspiracy,” and was “motivated by revolutionary zeal,” the New York Times reported .

Big Number 18. That’s how many years Ethan Nordean, a former leader of the Proud Boys, and Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes were both sentenced to, marking the second longest sentences behind Tarrio. Joseph Biggs—another member of the Proud Boys leadership—was sentenced to 17 years in prison.

Key Background Tarrio was one of five Proud Boys charged by the Justice Department last year for his involvement in the January 6 attack on the Capitol. Prosecutors argued Tarrio and the four members claimed credit for the attack, citing a video shared by Biggs to other members in which he said: “We’ve just taken the Capitol. ” The Proud Boys were formed in 2016 by Vice co-founder Gavin McInnis, who said the all-male group was a club for “Western Chauvinists.

” The far-right group’s members have been tied to street brawls and face-offs with left-leaning protestors. Trump referenced the group during a debate in September 2020 when asked to denounce white supremacy, saying the Proud Boys should “stand back and stand by. ” Further Reading Nytimes Ex-Leader of Proud Boys Sentenced to 22 Years in Jan.

6 Sedition Case MORE FROM FORBES Ex-Proud Boys Leader Enrique Tarrio Faces Seditious Conspiracy Sentencing Today-Prosecutors Push For 33 Years In Prison By Ty Roush Follow me on Twitter . Send me a secure tip . Molly Bohannon Editorial Standards Print Reprints & Permissions.