Proud Boy Dominic Pezzola who stormed US Capitol jailed for 10 years

A Proud Boy who led the US Capitol riot by smashing his approach into the complicated with a police protect earlier than he filmed himself puffing a celebratory cigar has been sentenced to 10 years in jail.

Dominic Pezzola, a 46-year-old former US Marine, fought with officers throughout the raid on Congress on 6 January 2021.

He was convicted of assaulting police and obstructing an official continuing.

One other Proud Boy, Ethan Nordean, faces sentencing on a extra severe seditious conspiracy cost on Friday.

A selfie video taken on the day of the riot reveals Pezzola smoking what he described as a “victory cigar” within the Capitol constructing.

Throughout Friday’s sentencing, an emotional Pezzola expressed some regret for his actions. His spouse, daughter and mom all addressed the choose, together with his mom describing him as having been a “great youngster” that “by no means gave me any bother”.

However as soon as the jail time period had been handed down and the choose had left the room, Pezzola shouted: “Trump gained!”

The Proud Boys – which began as a “consuming membership” seven years in the past – noticed themselves as Donald Trump’s foot-soldiers and have been among the many first to march on the Capitol on the day of the riot.

Trump supporters overran police strains and stormed the constructing in a bid to forestall Congress from ratifying Joe Biden’s election victory.

Pezzola and Nordean went to trial alongside three different members of the organisation, together with former chairman Enrique Tarrio and US army veterans Joe Biggs and Zachary Rehl.

On Thursday, Biggs and Rehl have been sentenced to 17 and 15 years in jail respectively.

Tarrio is because of be sentenced subsequent week. He faces as much as 33 years in jail.

Of the 5, Pezzola was the one one acquitted of seditious conspiracy, a cost utilized to defendants for plotting to overthrow the federal government or use pressure “to forestall, hinder, or delay the execution of any regulation of the US”.

Prosecutors, nonetheless, argued that Pezzola’s violence on the riot warranted a stiff sentence.

“Pezzola’s actions and testimony go away little question that he supposed to affect or have an effect on the conduct of presidency by intimidation or coercion,” prosecutors wrote in a sentencing memo. “He dedicated crimes of terrorism on January 6.”

On Friday, Choose Timothy Kelly advised Pezzola he had “performed a big function” within the Capitol riot, even when he was not in a management function within the Proud Boys.

“It was a nationwide shame, what occurred,” Choose Kelly mentioned.

Throughout the trial, a combative Pezzola had repeatedly downplayed his actions throughout the riot, arguing the group have been “trespassing protesters” relatively than an “invading pressure”.

He additionally advised jurors that his actions that day have been defined by his reverting to army coaching when he noticed police use non-lethal munitions to attempt to disperse the group.

“Within the army and Marine Corps, you do not ever flip round and run away,” Pezzola mentioned.

“You are conditioned not to consider the flight response. You are conditioned to run towards the hazard.”

The second Proud Boy because of be sentenced on Friday, Ethan Nordean, was thought of a pacesetter within the organisation.

Throughout the trial, prosecutors mentioned he helped organise the group earlier than and throughout the riot, together with by asking for donations for communications gear and “protecting gear”.

Greater than 1,100 have been arrested on riot-related prices, leading to 630 responsible pleas and over 110 convictions.

The longest jail sentence thus far – 18 years – was doled out to Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes in Might.