Jan 6 Role Lands Philly Proud Boys Leader Federal Prison Stint

PHILADELPHIA — The former leader of a right wing nationalist group in Philadelphia was hit with more than a dozen years in federal prison for his role in the Jan. 6, 2021 riot at the United States Capitol.

Zachary Rehl, 37, of Philadelphia, was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison after being convicted of seditious conspiracy and conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding in May.

Rehl, a veteran and the son of two Philadelphia police officers who was arrested in March 2021 on charges related to the incident.

Rehl was the leader of the Philadelphia Proud Boys and federal authorities claimed he and several other members of the group — Henry "Enrique" Tarrio, Dominic Pezzola, Ethan Nordean, and Joe Biggs — encouraged others to attend the "Stop the Steal" rally on Jan. 6, 2021 by various means, including social media and encrypted communications.

Tarrio, Nordean, Pezzola, and Biggs were also found guilty of the same charges as Rehl.

Biggs was recently sentenced to 17 years in federal prison.

Federal authorities claim the five Proud Boys, which is described as a "pro-Western fraternal organization for men who refuse to apologize for creating the modern world; aka Western Chauvinists," conspired to oppose the transfer of power from President Donald Trump, who championed the stolen election claims, to then President-Elect Joe Biden.

Authorities alleged the five "directed and mobilized attendees" into the Capitol, destroyed property, assaulted law enforcement, on Jan. 6, 2021.

Rehl and others got beyond barriers at about 1 p.m. on Jan. 6, 2021 and within minutes were in the front of the mob, authorities said.

Rehl got into the Capitol at about 2:53 p.m., according to authorities.