Former Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio gets 22 years for role in Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol - Action News
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Former Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio gets 22 years for role in Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol

Former Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio was sentenced Tuesday to 22 years in prison, the longest sentence handed down so far over the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.He was the last of the defendants who were convicted of seditious conspiracy and received the longest sentence.

Final defendant convicted of seditious conspiracy

A man in a baseball cap and military gear smokes a cigarette while his vest holds a White Claw beverage.
Proud Boys leader Henry (Enrique) Tarrio is shown in Portland, Ore., on Sept. 26, 2020. He has been sentenced to 22 years in prison for his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, following a conviction on charges including seditious conspiracy. (Allison Dinner/The Associated Press)

Former Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio was sentenced Tuesday to 22 years in prison, the longest sentence handed down so far in connection with the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.

Tarrio was convicted in May on several charges including seditious conspiracy a felony involving attempting "to overthrow, put down or to destroy by force the government of the United States" for his role in planning the storming of the Capitol, when thousands of supporters of Donald Trump tried to stop Congress from certifying the election that the outgoing president hasfalsely claimed was rigged.

Federal prosecutors had sought a 33-year prison sentence.

Tarrio was not in Washington the day of the violence because another judge had ordered him to stay out of D.C.Prosecutors said he helped direct the attack from Baltimore.

Tarrio, 39,pleaded for leniency, describing Jan. 6 as a "national embarrassment," and apologizing to the police officers who defended the Capitol and the lawmakers who fled in fear.

"Please show me mercy," he said, adding, "I ask you that you not take my 40s from me."

Three other members of the far-right extremist group who were found guilty of the samerarely used sedition charge were sentenced last week to prison terms ranging from 15 to 18 years. The man who founded the far-right Oath Keepers militia was also convicted of seditious conspiracy. One former Proud Boys member was acquitted of the charge.

Here is a rundownof the other men convicted and theirsentences:

Ethan Nordean

A man with sunglasses speaks into a megaphone. There is a large crowd behind him.
Proud Boy member Ethan Nordean was referred to by prosectors as the group's 'undisputed leader on the ground' during the riot. He was also convicted of seditious conspiracy and sentenced to 18 years. (Carolyn Kaster/The Associated Press)

Nordean was referred to during his trial by prosecutors asthe Proud Boys' "undisputed leaderon the ground," on Jan. 6. He was convicted of seditious conspiracy.

According to court documents, Nordeanled a group of nearly 200 men toward the U.S. Capitol, then moved to the front of the mob and helped tear down a fence, allowing rioters to pour onto the grounds and confront police.

Nordean told the judge he now sees Jan. 6 as a "complete and utter tragedy."

Prosecutors had asked for a 27-year sentence; he wasgiven 18 years.

Stewart Rhodes

Man wearing a black cap, eye patch and black tee shirt speaks into a microphone
Stewart Rhodes, founder of the Oath Keepers militia, in June 2017. Rhodes was convicted of seditious conspiracy and also sentenced to 18 years in prison. (Susan Walsh/The Associated Press)

Rhodes is a Yale-educated lawyer and former U.S. army paratrooper. He also founded the Oath Keepers in 2009.He has worn an eye patch since accidentally shooting himself in the face with his own gun.

Rhodes was convicted, in a separate case fromthe Proud Boys,of seditious conspiracy in connection to the Jan. 6 attack, along withobstructing an official proceeding and tampering with documents.

He was sentenced in May to 18 years in prison. Prosecutors, who had sought 25 years, are appealing thesentence.

Joseph Biggs

Man with grey beard and mustache, wearing a grey and white plaid coat and black tuque, walks by
Proud Boys member Joseph Biggs, on Jan. 6, 2021. He was convicted of seditious conspiracy and sentenced to 17 years. (Jim Urquhart/Reuters)

The former Proud Boys member was convicted of seditious conspiracy among other serious charges and received a 17-year sentence.

Prosecutors had argued that Tarrio chose Biggs and Nordean to be the group leaders on the ground in his absence. They said Biggs was a key instigator of the violence that unfolded that day, using a megaphone to lead rioters in a chant of "Whose Capitol? Our Capitol!" according to a court filing.

They went on to say Biggstore down fencing and scaled scaffolding before entering the Capitol.

Ahead of his sentencing, he told the judge he had "messed up that day," but insisted, he is "not a terrorist."

Prosecutors had sought a 33-year sentence, arguing Biggs and his fellow defendants"intentionally positioned themselves at the vanguard of political violence in this country."

WATCH | Police video of the violence on Capitol Hill:

Capitol Hill police release body camera footage of Washington attack

4 years ago
Duration 2:41
FBI investigators are continuing to look for clues into the deadly assault on Capitol Hill on Jan. 6, including who planted pipe bombs.

Zachary Rehl

Man in camo cap and dark jacket, holding what looks like a walkie talkie, infront of a gathered group of people with flags and banners.
Proud Boys member Zachary Rehl walks toward the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6. The judge read what he called 'chilling' texts written by Zehl during his sentencing, before giving him a term of 15 years. (Carolyn Kaster/The Associated Press)

Rehl, another Proud Boys leader,was sentenced alongside Biggs to 15 years.

Prosecutors said he had been seen on videospraying a chemical irritant at law enforcement officers outside the Capitol on Jan. 6, andled at least three other men into the Capitol and a senator's office, where he smoked and posed for pictures while flashing the Proud Boys' hand gesture.

During his sentencing, U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly, aTrump appointee,read from some of the "chilling" messages Rehl sent after Jan. 6, including one, the judge said, that read:"Everyone should have showed up armed and taken the country back the right way."

Kelly shook his head and said, "I mean, my God."

Rehl told the judge he deeply regretted being at the Capitol that day. "Politicians started spreading lies about the election, and I fell for it hook, line and sinker," he said.

Dominic Pezzola

One man carries a police riot shield while another man raises his fist in the air while walking through a large, ornate room.
Dominic Pezzola, centre, with a police shield, is seen outside the Senate Chamber inside the Capitol, on Jan. 6. The former Proud Boys member was sentenced to 10 years in prison. (Manuel Balce Ceneta/The Associated Press)

Pezzolawas the only member of the Proud Boys charged with seditious conspiracy who was acquitted of the charge. He was convicted of several other felonies, though, includingobstructing an official proceeding and assaulting police.

Though not a leader of the group, prosecutors argued the relatively recent recruit had been "an enthusiastic foot soldier."

Pezzolasmasheda window with a police officer's shield when the Capitol was first breached, allowing other rioters to stream into the building.He later filmed a "celebratory video" with a cigar inside the building, prosecutors said.

He was sentenced to 10 years in prison.

According to the U.S. Justice Department, more than1,000 people have been charged in connection to the Jan. 6 attack.

WATCH | Trump's message to the Proud Boys in 2020:

'Proud Boys, stand back and stand by,' Trump says in debate

4 years ago
Duration 1:30
U.S. presidential debate moderator Chris Wallace asks U.S. President Donald Trump if he will condemn white supremacist groups involved in violent clashes over policing and racism in some U.S. cities. Trump replies, 'Sure' and asks 'Who would you like me to condemn? Who? Proud Boys, stand back and stand by,' referencing one of the groups involved.

With files from The Associated Press and Reuters