- Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio found guilty of seditious conspiracy over involvement in Jan. 6 riot
- Several other members of the right-wing extremist group were charged
- One member was found not guilty of the rare criminal charge
A jury convicted Proud Boys former leader Enrique Tarrio of seditious conspiracy over his involvement in the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol Hill riot, along with several members of the right-wing extremist group.
On top of the former head of the group, several members were also charged with seditious conspiracy, identified as Ethan Nordean, Joseph Biggs, and Zachary Rehl. They face several other charges, including three conspiracy charges, obstructing the Electoral College vote, and tampering with evidence.
Proud Boys Members Convicted of Seditious Conspiracy
The latest development is only the third time prosecutors were able to secure prosecutions for seditious conspiracy with the Justice Department's historic prosecution of people who joined the mob in the riot on the Capitol building, as per CNN.
The jury found a fifth defendant, identified as Dominic Pezzola, not guilty of the rare criminal charge after it returned on Thursday for several more hours of deliberations. They alleged he did not have a leadership position in the Proud Boys group and was considered inactive in the group's chats.
However, all five defendants were found guilty of several other charges related to the unprecedented Capitol siege. These charges include obstruction of an official proceeding, obstruction of law enforcement during civil disorder, and conspiracy to prevent an officer from discharging any duties.
Each Proud Boys member was convicted of at least one charge carrying a 20-year maximum prison sentence. Each of them could also face a lengthy amount of time behind bars for their actions.
Prosecutors in the case argued that Tarrio and other leaders of the far-right extremist group were the most significant drivers of the Capitol Hill riot. According to Politico, they claim that the defendants assembled what was considered a "fighting force" that traveled to the Capitol on the day of the incident.
Role in the Jan. 6 Capitol Hill Riot
They added that several members of the Proud Boys were present for and involved in multiple breaches of police lines during the riot. Furthermore, the group members were thought to have celebrated their role in the breach afterward.
The recent verdicts are a significant development in the cases against individuals who joined the Jan. 6, 2021, siege. Five convicted defendants over seditious conspiracy belonged to the Proud Boys, while nine others were associated with the Oath Keepers, another far-right extremist group.
On top of the seditious conspiracy charge, a mistrial was declared on ten charges against the defendants. This was due to the jury failing to conclude a complicated trial that lasted almost four months, twice as long as officials initially planned.
The former Proud Boys leader, Tarrio, was sentenced with the charge despite not being in Washington on the day of the riot. Authorities arrested him two days prior over burning a Black Lives Matter banner and weapons charges, said BBC.
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