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On Friday, two former members of the far-right Proud Boys extremist group were sentenced for their involvement in the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. Notably, one of them received a sentence that ties for the longest among all January 6 cases.
U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly handed down an 18-year prison sentence to Ethan Nordean, while former Proud Boy Dominic Pezzola received a 10-year prison term.
It’s important to note that Nordean’s 18-year sentence equals the longest sentence imposed on any defendant connected to the Capitol attack. In a previous case, Stewart Rhodes, the leader of the Oath Keepers, received an 18-year prison sentence in May.
Judge Kelly, in delivering the sentences for both Nordean and Pezzola, approved the government’s recommendation to classify their actions as acts of terrorism aimed at influencing the government through threats and the use of force.
Prosecutors asserted that both Nordean and Pezzola played leading roles in guiding rioters to the Capitol on January 6 and engaged in actions that facilitated the mob’s advancement. Nordean removed barriers, enabling the initial wave of rioters to advance further, while Pezzola used a stolen police riot shield to break a Capitol window, allowing the mob to infiltrate the building.
Ethan Nordean, convicted on charges of seditious conspiracy and several other felonies, was described by prosecutors as a “full and active participant” in the conspiracy. Other rioters sought his guidance during the events of January 6, and he was referred to as the “undisputed leader on the ground.”
In addition to his role in dismantling the fence that enabled fellow rioters to approach the Capitol, Nordean, a prominent figure within the Proud Boys organization, actively recruited individuals for January 6 who were willing to resort to physical violence if necessary, according to the sentencing memo.
Judge Kelly attributed his leadership on that day to Nordean’s sentence of 18 years in prison and three years of probation, although prosecutors had requested a 27-year sentence.
During the court proceedings on Friday, Nordean’s attorney argued that his client did not specifically target members of Congress and did not engage in assaulting a police officer, as some other rioters did on January 6.
Nordean also addressed the court and expressed remorse for his actions, acknowledging the tragic nature of the events of that day. He stated, “No matter how we all tried to individually analyze January 6, we must all conclude it was a complete and utter tragedy.”