Proud Boys Leader Pleads Guilty After Burning BLM Banner: DOJ

WASHINGTON, DC — A Proud Boys leader from Miami pleaded guilty to charges in two cases in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia Monday, including one involving the burning of a Black Lives Matter banner stolen from a downtown Washington, D.C. church, according to a news release from the Department of Justice.

Henry “Enrique” Tarrio, 37, pleaded guilty to one count of destruction of property for the burning of the BLM flag and one count of attempted possession of a large-capacity ammunition feeding device in a separate firearm case, the DOJ said.

Each offense carries a maximum sentence of 180 days’ imprisonment and/or a $1,000 fine. Tarrio will be sentenced Aug. 23.

On Dec. 12, a group affiliated with the Proud Boys, including Tarrio, were in the area of 11th and K streets NW in Washington, D.C., near the Asbury United Methodist Church.

Unidentified members of the group stole a banner that read #BLACKLIVESMATTER from the church’s property, the DOJ said. They burned the banner using lighter fluid and lighters at the intersection of 11th and E Streets NW.

Tarrio posted a picture of himself holding an unlit lighter just inches from ignited lighters in two other individuals’ hands to his Parler account, the DOJ said. He also admitted to burning the banner on social media and to numerous media outlets.

When he returned to Washington, D.C. Jan 4, he was arrested on a warrant charging him with the Dec. 12 destruction of property offense.

While searching his bookbag at the time of his arrest, police found two high-capacity firearm magazines, each bearing the insignia of the Proud Boys, the DOJ said. Tarrio told detectives he intended to give the magazines to a customer who was also in Washington, D.C. at the time.