Longer Prison Sentences Sought For FL Proud Boys In Jan. 6 Attack

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Justice intends to appeal the length of prison sentences for four Proud Boys leaders convicted of seditious conspiracy in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol building.

Prosecutors with the DOJ are calling for stiffer penalties for the four men, including national leader Enrique Tarrio of Miami.

Tarrio was sentenced to 22 years in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly, though prosecutors initially sought 33 years behind bars for him.

• Also Read: Proud Boys Leader Sentenced To 22 Years For Jan. 6 Capitol Attack

They are also asking the court to revisit their recommended sentences of 33 years for Proud Boys organizer Joseph Biggs of Ormond Beach, Florida; 30 years for Proud Boys chapter leader Zachary Rehl, of Philadelphia; and 27 years in prison for chapter leader Ethan Nordean of Auburn, Washington.

They were sentenced to 17, 15 and 18 years, respectively.

“We merely filed the notice to preserve our right to appeal,” a spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney’s Office in D.C., which is leading the case, told The Hill.

The notice didn’t include any legal arguments or other information.

Attorney Nayib Hassan said that the defense team will review prosecutors’ reasoning for appealing the sentencing but is preparing its own appeal and believes it will “prevail on multiple grounds.”

Federal prosecutors also plan to appeal the sentence for Dominic Pezzola, a Proud Boys member from Rochester, New York, who was acquitted of seditious conspiracy but convicted of other charges. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison, though prosecutors sought 20 years.

The DOJ is already appealing the 18-year prison sentence for Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes, who was convicted of seditious conspiracy in a separate case, and other members of his right-wing militia.

This article includes reporting by The Associated Press.