Topline
Dominic Pezzola—a member of the Proud Boys—was sentenced to ten years in prison on Friday, according to multiple reports, nearly four months after Pezzola was convicted for his involvement in the January 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol, including smashing a window, thereby allowing fellow rioters to enter the building.
Judge Timothy Kelly called Pezzola “the tip of the spear that allowed people to end up getting into … [+] the Capitol.”
Key Facts
Judge Timothy Kelly ruled that Pezzola—who was acquitted on seditious conspiracy charges—had committed terrorist acts during the Capitol riot, after Pezzola aided rioters in entering the building by smashing a window, according to the Washington Post.
Pezzola was convicted in May on charges of obstruction of an official proceeding, conspiracy to prevent federal officers from doing their duties and destruction of government property over $1,000.
Prosecutors argued that Pezzola was used by leaders of the Proud Boys to lead an effort to enter the Capitol building, according to CNN.
Pezzola’s attorneys—who requested a five-year sentence—said Pezzola was “caught up in the craziness” of the riot and did not intend to enter the building, according to the Associated Press.
Pezzola apologized for participating in the Capitol riot and suggested he “never should have crossed the barrier at the Capitol that day”—though as he left the courtroom, Pezzola shouted: “Trump won!”
The Justice Department requested a 20-year sentence for Pezzola last month, according to the Associated Press.
Crucial Quote
“The reality is, you smashed that window in and let people begin to stream into the Capitol building and threaten the lives of our lawmaker,” Kelly told Pezzola. “It’s not something that I ever dreamed I would have seen in our country.”
Surprising Fact
Unlike the four members of the Proud Boys convicted of seditious conspiracy, including chairman Enrique Tarrio, Joseph Biggs, Ethan Nordean and Zachary Rehl, a jury ruled that Pezzola—who joined the Proud Boys two months before the riot—was not as involved and did not participate in any planning.
Key Background
Pezzola—who described himself as a “second-degree” Proud Boy, according to the Justice Department—was one of four members of the Proud Boys to be sentenced in May for the January 6 attack on the Capitol. Pezzola was identified by prosecutors in videos and images from the riot, after Pezzola was seen carrying a riot shield throughout the day. The Justice Department noted that Pezzola had forced “entry into the Capitol building by breaking windows and ramming open doors” despite not being “lawfully authorized” to enter or remain inside the building. Two other Proud Boys have received sentences: Biggs received a 17-year sentence and Rehl got 15 years.
Further Reading
Ex-Proud Boys Leader Joseph Biggs Gets 17-Year Prison Sentence For Seditious Conspiracy (Forbes)
Ex-Proud Boy Leader Enrique Tarrio’s Sentencing Rescheduled (Forbes)
Four Proud Boys Found Guilty Of Seditious Conspiracy Over January 6 (Forbes)
