Enrique Tarrio, the previous leader of the Proud Boys, received a 22-year prison sentence for his involvement in the U.S. Capitol riot on January 6, 2021.
A Washington, D.C., jury convicted Tarrio of seditious conspiracy along with three other top figures from the Proud Boys, who were given sentences ranging from 15 to 18 years.
Although the Department of Justice initially advocated for a prison term spanning over 30 years for Tarrio, highlighting him as the chief instigator among the protestors, he was further mandated to serve 36 months of probation after his prison term.
Prosecutors emphasized Tarrio’s lack of remorse by noting his repeated public statements void of regret concerning the events of January 6.
Addressing the court, Tarrio acknowledged his wrongdoings and extended apologies to the police force.
In a plea for mercy, he referred to the events of January 6 as a “stain on our nation,” offering apologies to the Capitol’s defending police and the legislators who sought refuge. He conveyed regret for disappointing his loved ones and pledged his detachment from political pursuits.
Tarrio asserted, “My intention was not to wreak havoc or alter the election outcome,” and entreated U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly to be lenient, hoping to preserve his upcoming years.
Interestingly, Tarrio wasn’t present in D.C. during the riot, having been detained for a different matter two days earlier. Still, the prosecution convincingly established his pivotal role in planning the Proud Boys’ actions aiming to breach and take over the Capitol.
The sentencing was initially slated for the previous week but was postponed due to the sudden illness of Judge Kelly.
To date, over 1,100 persons have faced legal actions linked to the Capitol riot, with convictions being secured against over 600 of them, either through guilty pleas or trials.
Of all the sentences meted out for the January 6 events, Tarrio’s is the lengthiest till now.
