As he exited a Washington courtroom last Friday, a member of the far-right Proud Boys group exclaimed, “Trump emerged victorious!” This outburst followed his sentencing to a 10-year prison term for his involvement in the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, which was carried out by supporters of Donald Trump.
Dominic Pezzola, who did not hold a leadership position within the group, stood as the sole defendant among five to be acquitted of seditious conspiracy. However, he faced convictions for other serious offenses, including obstructing an official proceeding and assaulting law enforcement officers. U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly acknowledged Pezzola’s limited role within the group but emphasized his significant contribution to the events of that fateful day. Judge Kelly ultimately imposed a sentence that was approximately half the length of what the prosecutors had originally sought, while also denouncing the events as a national disgrace.
Despite Pezzola’s status as a new group member and his acquittal of seditious conspiracy, Judge Kelly considered his actions during the assault. Another sentencing hearing for Ethan Nordean, a prominent group leader convicted of seditious conspiracy and other crimes, was scheduled for later that Friday. Previously, on Thursday, the judge had ordered lengthy prison sentences of 17 years for Joseph Biggs and 15 years for Zachary Rehl, both former leaders of the Proud Boys.
The attack on the Capitol unfolded as thousands of Trump supporters responded to a speech in which the Republican ex-president falsely alleged widespread fraud as the cause of his November 2020 election loss. Despite his electoral defeat, Trump persisted in spreading these false claims as he led the Republican race for the 2024 presidential nomination, seeking to challenge Democratic President Joe Biden. Tragically, five individuals, including a police officer, lost their lives during or shortly after the riot, and more than 140 police officers sustained injuries. The Capitol building itself incurred millions of dollars in damage.
The government had initially sought a 20-year prison term for Pezzola and was currently pursuing a 27-year term for Nordean. While Pezzola was cleared of sedition charges, prosecutors argued that his assault on former Capitol Police Officer Mark Ode, during which he stole Ode’s riot shield and used it to break a Capitol window, justified a substantial prison sentence. Prosecutors portrayed him as an enthusiastic participant in the conspiracy.
