Proud Boys member Dominic Pezzola gets 10 years for role in riots at U.S. Capitol

Former Proud Boys member Dominic Pezzola defiantly declared Donald Trump the winner of the 2020 presidential election on Friday after he was sentenced to 10 years in prison for his role in the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol.

Pezzola — a 46-year-old former Marine from Rochester, N.Y. — marched to the Capitol alongside thousands of others two months after Joe Biden bested Trump in their battle for the White House. Amid the brutal protests, aimed at blocking the peaceful transition of power between the two, Pezzola snatched a police officer’s riot shield and used it to bust through a window, allowing protesters access to the government building. He also recorded a “celebratory video” with a cigar once inside, prosecutors said.

U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly said Pezzola turned into the “tip of the spear” when he breached the building and allowed a flow of protesters to enter.

“The reality is you smashed that window in and let people begin to stream into the Capitol building and threaten the lives of our lawmakers,” the judge told Pezzola. “It’s not something that I ever dreamed I would have seen in our country.”

Rioters, including Dominic Pezzola, center, with police shield, are confronted by U.S. Capitol Police officers outside the Senate Chamber inside the Capitol, Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington. (Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP)

Pezzola expressed some remorse for his actions during the hearing Friday, but shortly after he was sentenced raised his fist in the air and proclaimed: “Trump won!”

Amid his trial, Pezzola testified he initially grabbed the officer’s shield to protect himself from police riot control measures. His lawyers argued that he broke only one pane of glass and that it was other rioters who smashed out the rest of the window.

Additional evidence presented throughout the months-long proceedings showed he was recruited to join the Proud Boys, a far-right extremist group, shortly before the riots. He earned praise from the organization’s leadership for his violent actions at a separate rally ahead to the January 6 attack.

Pezzola was previously convicted of obstruction of an official proceeding, conspiracy to prevent Congress and federal law enforcement from their duties, and destruction of government property. He was the only one of the five Proud Boys defendants found guilty of seditious conspiracy, a rarely brought Civil War-era offense.

Ethan Nordean, a Proud Boys leader from Seattle, was also set to be sentenced on Friday. Prosecutors have requested that he get 27 years for his role in the riot. They are also seeking a 33-year prison term for Henry “Enrique” Tarrio, the former leader of the Proud Boys. His sentencing was delayed until next week.

And on Thursday, former Proud Boys leaders, Joseph Biggs and Zachary Rehl, were sentenced to 17 and 15 years, respectively

With News Wire Services