Former Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio was sentenced Tuesday to 22 years in prison for his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol.
Tarrio was found guilty of seditious conspiracy by a jury in Washington, D.C., alongside three other leaders of the Proud Boys. The others were each sentenced to between 15 and 18 years.
The Department of Justice sought more than three decades for Tarrio, characterizing him as the ringleader of violent protesters. He was also ordered to 36 months of probation at the end of his sentence.
“Tarrio has repeatedly and publicly indicated that he has no regrets about what he helped make happen on January 6,” prosecutors wrote.
SENTENCED PROUD BOY WHO SMASHED CAPITOL WINDOW ON JAN. 6 LEAVES COURTROOM DECLARING, ‘TRUMP WON!’
Tarrio spoke before the court, admitting his mistakes, and apologized to members of law enforcement.
Tarrio 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. He expressed remorse for letting down his family and vowed that he was done with politics.
“I am not a political zealot. Inflicting harm or changing the results of the election was not my goal,” Tarrio said.
He asked U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly, “please show me mercy” and that he “not take my 40s from me.”
Tarrio was not in Washington, D.C., at the time of the riot, having been arrested by federal authorities for a separate investigation two days prior.
Prosecutors successfully argued, however, that Tarrio was instrumental in organizing the Proud Boys demonstrations that sought to enter and occupy the Capitol.
He was originally scheduled to face sentencing last week until U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly fell ill and rescheduled the hearing.
Over 1,100 individuals have been brought to court over alleged involvement in the riot at the Capitol. Prosecutors have convicted more than 600 people for their participation in the violent demonstration. The majority have either pleaded guilty or gone to trial.
Tarrio’s sentence is the longest, so far, for any Jan. 6 defendants.
