Enrique Tarrio, the former leader of the far-right group Proud Boys, is scheduled to receive his sentence on Tuesday afternoon after being found guilty of seditious conspiracy related to the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. Tarrio was among four Proud Boys convicted of seditious conspiracy in May. Federal prosecutors are requesting a 33-year prison term for him, although U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly imposed shorter sentences on Tarrio's co-defendants compared to the prosecution's demands.
Last week, Joe Biggs received a 17-year sentence, Zachary Rehl got 15 years, and Ethan Nordean and Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes were both sentenced to 18 years, marking the lengthiest sentences handed down to January 6 defendants so far. Proud Boy Dominic Pezzola, the fifth defendant in the seditious conspiracy trial, was acquitted of the top charge but found guilty on other counts, resulting in a 10-year sentence.
Tarrio arrived at the courtroom around 2 p.m. ET, wearing an orange prison jumpsuit and took a seat at the defense table alongside his two attorneys.
According to federal prosecutors, Tarrio was a "naturally charismatic leader, a shrewd propagandist, and the prominent head of the national Proud Boys organization." They asserted that Tarrio had significant influence over many members, which he used to orchestrate and execute the conspiracy to disrupt the peaceful transfer of power.
Although Tarrio was not physically present at the Capitol on January 6, 2021, due to his arrest about 48 hours before the attack during a prior pro-Donald Trump event in Washington, D.C., prosecutors claimed that he strategically planned his arrest to provoke a response from his followers.
Despite spending most of January 6 in a Baltimore hotel, prosecutors argued that Tarrio's actions were substantial because he played a leadership role rather than being just a foot soldier. They described Tarrio as an intelligent, charming, creative, and articulate individual with exceptional communication skills, which he used to incite and radicalize numerous followers, advocating for political violence in general and organizing specific conspiracies.
Prosecutors contended that Tarrio viewed January 6 as a revolutionary act and pushed for a terrorism sentencing enhancement in his case, asserting that his actions were clearly aimed at influencing the government. The judge concurred, applying the terrorism enhancement to Tarrio's case, consistent with his decision for the four co-defendants who were leaders of the Proud Boys.