WASHINGTON – The former national chairman of the Proud Boys
was sentenced today for seditious conspiracy and other charges related to the
breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. His actions and the actions of
others disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress that was in the process
of ascertaining and counting the electoral votes related to the 2020
presidential election.
Henry “Enrique” Tarrio, 39, of Miami, Florida, was sentenced
to 22 years in prison and 36 months of supervised release.
“On January 6th, 2021, the United States Capitol was
attacked, 140 law enforcement officers defending those inside were assaulted,
and the peaceful transfer of power to a newly elected government – a
cornerstone of our democracy – was interrupted,” said Attorney General Merrick
B. Garland. “The Justice Department proved in court that the Proud Boys played
a central role in setting the January 6th attack on our Capitol into motion.
Over the past week, four members of the Proud Boys received sentences that
reflect the danger their crimes pose to our democracy. Today, the leader of the
Proud Boys, Enrique Tarrio, learned that the consequence of conspiring to
oppose by force the lawful transfer of presidential power is 22 years in
federal prison.”
“Today’s sentencing demonstrates that those who attempted to
undermine the workings of American democracy will be held criminally
accountable,” said FBI Director Christopher Wray. “The FBI will always protect
those who peacefully exercise their First Amendment rights. But we will never
condone the actions of those who break our laws, and we will continue to work
with federal prosecutors to ensure those perpetrators are held responsible.”
“No organization put more boots on the ground at the Capitol
on January 6, 2021 than the Proud Boys, and they were at the forefront of every
major breach of the Capitol’s defenses, leading the on-the-ground efforts to
storm the seat of government,” said U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves for the
District of Columbia. “The leaders of the Proud Boys and the leaders of the
Oath Keepers, who conspired before, during, and after the siege of the Capitol
to use force against their own government to prevent the peaceful transfer of
power have now been held accountable.”
On May 4, 2023, a jury found Tarrio and three other
co-defendants of multiple felonies, including seditious conspiracy for their
actions before and during the breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.
Previously sentenced in this matter were co-defendants Ethan
Nordean, Joseph Biggs, Zachary Rehl, and Dominic Pezzola. Nordean was sentenced
to 18 years in prison, Biggs was sentenced to 17 years, Rehl was sentenced to
15 years, and Pezzola was sentenced to 10 years.
According to court documents and evidence presented during
the trial, prior to the events of Jan. 6, 2021, Tarrio created a special
chapter of the Proud Boys known as the “Ministry of Self Defense,” which
included co-defendants Nordean, Biggs, and Rehl, conspired to prevent, hinder
and delay the certification of the Electoral College vote and to oppose by
force the authority of the government of the United States.
In the days leading to Jan. 6, 2021, Tarrio and the other
leaders of the Ministry of Self Defense hand-selected members of the
organization, including co-defendant Dominic Pezzola, to serve as “rally boys”
during the attack on the Capitol. To prepare for the attack on the Capitol,
Tarrio and the other leaders of the Ministry of Self Defense established a
chain of command, chose a time and place for their attack, and intentionally
recruited others who would follow their top-down leadership and who were
prepared to engage in physical violence if necessary.
On Jan. 6, 2021, the group began their assault that day at
10:00 a.m. when Nordean, Biggs, Rehl, and others marched an assembled group of
nearly 200 individuals away from speeches at the Ellipse and directly toward
the Capitol. At 2:11 p.m., Pezzola smashed open a window, allowing the first
rioters to enter the Capitol as Biggs and those with him entered close behind.
Court documents say that Nordean, Biggs and Rehl, and the men they recruited
and led, participated in every consequential breach at the Capitol that day.
As the events of Jan. 6, 2021, unfolded, Tarrio, who was
monitoring the attack from afar as it unfolded, posted encouraging messages to
his tens of thousands of social media followers, including the following
messages: “Proud of my boys and my country” and “Don’t f****** leave.” Tarrio
privately claimed credit for the riot at the Capitol, telling Proud Boys senior
leadership, “Make no mistake . . . we did this.” On Jan. 7, 2021, Tarrio
addressed the Ministry of Self Defense members, telling them he was “proud of
y’all.”
During the hearing, U.S. District Judge Timothy J. Kelly
found that Tarrio’s conduct constituted an official act of terrorism and
applied an enhancement to his final sentence.
The FBI Washington Field Office investigated the case. The
charges in the investigation are the result of significant cooperation between
agents and staff across numerous FBI Field Offices and law enforcement
agencies.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, the
Justice Department’s National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section, and
the Justice Department’s Criminal Division’s Organized Crime and Gang Section
prosecuted the case.
In the 31 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,106
individuals have been arrested in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to
the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including more than 350 individuals charged
with assaulting or impeding law enforcement.
Anyone with tips can call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or visit tips.fbi.gov.