The two leaders of the former Proud Boys have been sentenced to 17 years in prison for their roles in the assault on the Capitol on January 6, 2021. Judge Timothy Kelly of the U.S. District sentenced former leaders Joseph Biggs and Zachary Rehl to 17 and 15 years in prison, respectively.
The Proud Boys’ national chairman and top leader, Enrique Tarrio, is due to get his punishment on Tuesday. The judge, Timothy Kelly, had to cancel his scheduled sentencing and reschedule it for the following week because of his poor health.
Prosecutors recommended 33-year jail terms for Tarrio, 30-year sentences for Rehl, 27-year terms for Nordean, and 20-year terms for Pezzola. The sentences for Pezzola and Nordean are expected on Friday.
Who is Joe Biggs?
Biggs is a former member of the United States Army who was born and raised in Charlotte, North Carolina. He is a prominent member of the far-right organization Proud Boys and a citizen of the United States who has a criminal record.
A federal grand jury indicted Biggs for conspiracy in relation to the 2021 attack on the US Capitol in March 2021. In June 2022, he and four other Proud Boy leaders were charged with seditious conspiracy for their alleged roles in that assault.
Why was Joe Biggs sentenced to 17 years in Prison?
On January 6, 2021, Joseph Biggs assisted in leading dozens of Proud Boys members and associates in a march to the US Capitol. Biggs and other Proud Boys joined the mob that overran police barriers, chased away politicians, and prevented the joint session of Congress from certifying Joe Biden’s electoral victory.
The pair were described as “two men on a mission, with about 500 behind them ready to kick some butt for the benefit of this country” by a Proud Boys live broadcaster. Biggs approached the Capitol with Nordean and other Proud Boys. He was captured on several videos and pictures there; in one, he responded to someone calling his name by saying, “This is awesome!”
Federal crimes connected to the Capitol incident have been accused of by more than 1,100 people. They have received convictions and sentences totaling over 600. Just before receiving his punishment, Biggs told the judge, “I know that I messed up that day, but I’m not a terrorist.”
