Ex-Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio gets 22 years in Jan 6 case
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[September 06, 2023]
By Kanishka Singh
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -A former leader of the right-wing Proud Boys
group, Enrique Tarrio, was sentenced to 22 years in prison on Tuesday
for his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, the
longest sentence so far in the case.
U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly imposed the sentence on Tarrio, 39, of
Miami, for his role in the riot by then-President Donald Trump's
supporters. His lawyers said he would appeal.
Tarrio had been convicted of seditious conspiracy for his role in
planning the Capitol riot that sought to stop Congress from certifying
President Joe Biden's defeat of Trump in an election Trump falsely
claimed was tainted by widespread fraud.
Tarrio's lawyers said his absence from Washington on Jan. 6, the result
of another judge's earlier order, meant that he had no "direct
influence" on the riot.
But in imposing the sentence, the judge said: "Mr. Tarrio was the
ultimate leader of that conspiracy. Mr. Tarrio was the ultimate leader,
the ultimate person who organized, who was motivated by revolutionary
zeal."
Prosecutors said Tarrio had remained in touch with the Proud Boys group
and monitored their actions.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2023/Sep/06/images/ads/current/beasonag_sda_FAIR_2023.png)
"He was on a tier of his own," Assistant U.S. Attorney Conor Mulroe
said, adding Tarrio was a uniquely influential figure among the Proud
Boys.
Prosecutors had asked Kelly to sentence Tarrio to 33 years behind bars,
saying he helped direct the attack from Baltimore. His attorneys had
asked for no more than 15 years.
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![](../images/090623PIX/news_o95.jpg)
Members of the far-right Proud Boys,
including leader Enrique Tarrio (C), rally in support of U.S.
President Donald Trump to protest against the results of the 2020
U.S. presidential election, in Washington, U.S. November 14, 2020.
REUTERS/Hannah McKay/File Photo
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2023/Sep/06/images/ads/current/chicagostreet_quarter_FAIR_2023.png)
Kelly last week sentenced another far-right Proud Boys leader, Ethan
Nordean, to 18 years. Oath Keepers militia founder Stewart Rhodes in
May was also sentenced to 18 years.
In court on Tuesday, Tarrio said he was sorry for his actions. "I am
extremely ashamed and disappointed," he said about violence against
law enforcement on that day, adding: "What happened on Jan. 6 was a
national embarrassment."
More than 1,100 people have been arrested on charges related to the
Capitol assault. At least 630 have pleaded guilty and at least 110
have been convicted at trial.
Five people, including a police officer, died during or shortly
after the riot, and more than 140 police officers were injured.
Damage to the Capitol was in the millions of dollars.
Special Counsel Jack Smith, who was tapped to investigate broader
efforts to overturn the 2020 election, has charged Trump, the
front-runner for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, for
trying to keep himself in power.
(Reporting by Kanishka Singh; additional reporting by Dan Whitcomb;
Editing by Scott Malone, Jonathan Oatis and Howard Goller)
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