DOJ files notice of appeal on Proud Boys sentences, will seek tougher punishments

Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio received 22 years in prison, while members Ethan Nordean, Joe Biggs, Zachary Rehl, and Dominic Pezzola received 18, 17, 15, and 10, respectively.

By Ben Whedon

Published: October 16, 2023 7:49pm

The Department of Justice on Monday filed a notice of appeal, indicating it would challenge the sentences of five members of the Proud Boys convicted for their roles in the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot in a bid to secure tougher punishments.

Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio received 22 years in prison, while members Ethan Nordean, Joe Biggs, Zachary Rehl, and Dominic Pezzola received 18, 17, 15, and 10, respectively. All but Pezzola were convicted of seditious conspiracy. While Pezzola was acquitted on that count, the jury found him guilty of other charges.

Prosecutors had sought 33 years in prison for Tarrio.

The notice of appeal did not outline its reasoning and was merely the first step of informing the court of the DOJ's plans, The Hill noted.

The Proud Boys are one of two right-wing groups that have featured heavily in DOJ prosecutions of Jan. 6 participants, the other being the Oath Keepers. The DOJ has also sought stiffer sentences for convicted members of that organization.

Ben Whedon is an editor and reporter for Just the News. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter.