Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio and one of his top lieutenants both face 33 years in prison after being charged with seditious conspiracy over the January 6 US Capitol riot – with three other top members also facing long sentences

The former Proud Boys leader and one of his top lieutenants both face up to 33 years in prison, according to court documents.

The Justice Department is seeking 33 years for Enrique Tarrio, 38, and Joseph Biggs, a self-described Proud Boys organizer.

Tarrio was convicted of seditious conspiracy in one of the most serious cases to come to light following the January 6, 2021 attack on the US Capitol.

The sentence, if handed down, would be the longest sentence handed down in the massive Jan. 6 prosecution.

Tarrio, who was once national chairman of the far-right extremist group, and three lieutenants were convicted by a Washington jury in May of conspiracy to block the transfer of presidential power in hopes of keeping Republican Donald Trump in the White House after he lost the 2020 election.

The sentence, if handed down, would be the longest sentence handed down in the massive Jan. 6 prosecution. Pictured: Biggs, left

Tarrio, who was not himself involved in the uprising at the Capitol, was a prime target of what has become the largest Justice Department investigation in U.S. history.

He led the neo-fascist group — known for street battles with left-wing activists — when Trump infamously told the Proud Boys to “stand back and stand by” during his first debate with Democrat Joe Biden.

During the month-long trial, prosecutors argued that the Proud Boys saw themselves as foot soldiers fighting for Trump, while the Republican spread lies that the Democrats stole the election from him, and were willing to go to war to bring their favorite leader to power. hold.

“They unleashed a force on the Capitol calculated to force their political will on elected officials and overturn the results of democratic elections,” the prosecutors wrote in their file. The foot soldiers of the right wanted to keep their leader in power. They failed. They are not heroes; they are criminals.’

They ask the judge to impose a 30-year prison sentence on Zachary Rehl, who was president of the Proud Boys chapter in Philadelphia; 27 years in prison for Ethan Nordean of Auburn, Washington, who was president of the Proud Boys chapter; and 20 years for Dominic Pezzola, a Proud Boys member from Rochester, New York. Pezzola was acquitted of seditious conspiracy, but convicted of other serious charges.

Prosecutors argued that the Proud Boys saw themselves as foot soldiers fighting for Trump as he spread lies that the Democrats stole the election from him. Pictured: Insurgents loyal to President Donald Trump break into the Capitol in Washington on January 6, 2021

Tarrio was not in Washington on January 6, having been arrested two days earlier in a separate case and forced to leave the capital. But prosecutors claimed he organized and led the attack by Proud Boys who stormed the Capitol that day.

Defense attorneys argued that there was no conspiracy and no plan to attack the Capitol, attempting to portray the Proud Boys as a disorganized drinking club whose members’ participation in the riot was a spontaneous act fueled by Trump’s election rage. Tarrio’s lawyers tried to argue that Trump was to blame for urging a mob outside the White House to “fight like hell.”

Lawyers for the Proud Boys say the sentences proposed by prosecutors are extreme. A lawyer for Biggs and Rehl noted that the Jan. 6 chaos was fueled by Trump’s bogus election claims, telling the judge that “believing the Supreme Commander and heeding his call should provide some degree of mitigation.”

“The defendants are not terrorists. Whatever excesses of zeal they showed on January 6, 2021, and however serious the possible interference with the orderly transfer of power resulting from the events of that day, 10 years or more behind bars is an outrageous punishment,” wrote attorney Norm Pattis . .

As in the case of Rhodes and other Oath Keepers, prosecutors are urging the judge to apply a so-called “terrorism enhancement” – which could lead to a longer prison sentence – arguing that the Proud Boys were trying to outwit the government influenced by ‘intimidation or coercion.’

U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta agreed with prosecutors that the Oath Keepers’ crimes could be punished as “terrorism,” but he still sentenced Rhodes and the others to shorter prison terms than prosecutors demanded. Prosecutors had asked Mehta to sentence Rhodes to 25 years behind bars.

Tarrio, of Miami, and his co-defendants will face trial before U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly in a series of hearings beginning later this month in Washington federal court.

It is the same courthouse where Trump pleaded not guilty this month in the case brought by Special Counsel Jack Smith that charged the Republican with illegal schemes to undermine voters’ will and reverse his loss to Biden. Trump has denied any allegations.

Tarrio and three of his lieutenants were also convicted of two of the same charges Trump faces: obstruction of Congressional certification of Biden’s victory and conspiracy to obstruct Congress.