Former Proud Boys Leaders Receive Some of the Lengthiest Sentences for January 6 Capitol Assault

Two previous high-ranking members of the Proud Boys, a far-right extremist organization, were sentenced on Thursday to over a decade in prison each for their roles in orchestrating the January 6, 2021, assault on the United States Capitol. The aim of the attack was to obstruct the peaceful transfer of presidential power from Donald Trump to Joe Biden following the 2020 election.

Joseph Biggs, an organizer, was given a 17-year prison sentence, while Zachary Rehl received 15 years. These sentences rank as the second and third most severe punishments meted out to date for the events of January 6. U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly, who delivered the sentences, is also slated to oversee upcoming hearings for three other individuals convicted in May after a four-month trial. This trial exposed the extremist group’s embrace of Donald Trump’s baseless claims that he was unjustly deprived of victory in the 2020 election.

Enrique Tarrio, formerly the national chairman of the Proud Boys, will face his sentencing next week, a delay attributed to Judge Kelly’s illness. Although Tarrio was not present in Washington on the day of the attack, he had assigned Biggs and another Proud Boys chapter president, Ethan Nordean, as field leaders in his absence, according to prosecutors.

Charges against Biggs, Rehl, Tarrio, Nordean, and a fifth member, Dominic Pezzola, included seditious conspiracy—a seldom-used Civil War-era offense. Pezzola was acquitted of this charge but found guilty on other serious counts. Federal prosecutors had recommended a 33-year sentence for Biggs, who was instrumental in leading a contingent of Proud Boys to the Capitol, where they joined a mob that breached police lines and forced lawmakers into hiding, disrupting the Congressional session to certify Biden’s electoral win.

Judge Kelly emphasized that the attack violated a core American tradition—peaceful transition of power—saying, “That day shattered our custom of peacefully transferring power, which is one of the most sacred values we possess as Americans.”

Defense attorneys claimed that their clients were unfairly being held responsible for the actions of other Trump supporters present at the Capitol. Biggs, a resident of Ormond Beach, Florida, admitted to errors in judgment but attributed them to being swept up by the crowd. He insisted he was neither violent nor a terrorist.

During the trial, a large cache of private messages exchanged among Proud Boys leaders prior to January 6 was presented as evidence. Biggs was particularly active in these exchanges, encouraging more radical actions.

Federal prosecutors had also recommended lengthy sentences for other individuals involved, including Tarrio, Nordean, and Pezzola, whose hearings are upcoming.

As of now, more than 1,100 individuals have faced federal charges related to the Capitol riot, with over 600 having been convicted and sentenced. Stewart Rhodes, the founder of the Oath Keepers, another anti-government group, currently holds the record for the harshest sentence with 18 years in prison.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Proud Boys Sentencing

More about Proud Boys Sentencing

• Sentencing Guidelines for January 6 Capitol Riot Cases
• Proud Boys: Who They Are and What They Stand For
• Civil War-era Offenses: Understanding Seditious Conspiracy
• Overview of the January 6 Capitol Assault Trials
• Enrique Tarrio’s Legal Troubles: A Timeline
• Stewart Rhodes and the Oath Keepers: In-Depth Analysis
• U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly: Career and Cases
• Impact of the January 6 Attack on U.S. Democracy and Governance