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Proud Boys Lieutenant Dominic Pezzola gets 10-year prison term for Jan. 6.

A Proud Boys Member Sentenced to 10 Years⁣ in Prison for ⁤Capitol Riot

In a significant development, a⁢ member of ⁤the Proud Boys from New York has ⁢been sentenced to ‌10 years in prison for his⁢ involvement in the U.S. Capitol riot on January 6, 2021. Dominic J. Pezzola, hailing ‍from Rochester, used a stolen‌ police riot shield‍ to ⁤smash open a window on ‌the Senate‍ side ⁢of the Capitol. The sentencing ​took place on September 1, 2023, in Washington D.C., presided over by‌ U.S. District Judge ⁤Timothy Kelly.

Judge Kelly handed down the sentence after finding Pezzola guilty on seven criminal​ counts, including obstruction of an official proceeding, conspiracy to prevent an officer ⁤from discharging their duties, obstruction of law enforcement during ​civil disorder, destruction ⁤of government⁢ property, assaulting or ‍resisting officers, and robbery of personal property of the United States.

It ‌is worth noting that Pezzola ‍was acquitted of seditious conspiracy in May, following ⁣a lengthy trial ⁣involving him and four other co-defendants from the ⁣Proud‍ Boys.

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Despite the Department ‌of Justice seeking a 20-year prison ​term, Judge Kelly decided ​to cut the sentence‌ in half. This reduction was⁢ made even though the judge added a terrorism enhancement for two‌ of the ‌criminal⁤ counts. Pezzola’s defense had suggested⁣ a five-year‌ sentence would be ‌more appropriate.

This sentencing ⁤follows a‍ similar approach taken by Judge Kelly on August ⁤31, when he ⁢sentenced other ⁤Proud ⁣Boys⁤ leaders, Joseph ⁤Biggs and Zachary ⁤Rehl, to 17 ⁤and 15 years in‌ prison, respectively. Prosecutors had sought much longer sentences for both ⁤individuals. ​The‌ sentencing for other top‌ Proud Boys leaders, Henry “Enrique” Tarrio and Ethan Nordean, is still pending.

During the sentencing hearing, Pezzola’s⁤ mother, daughters, and wife made‍ emotional appeals to Judge Kelly, pleading for mercy. Pezzola’s wife, Lisa Magee,‌ tearfully described⁤ the financial hardships they ‌have faced, the loss of friends and family due to the publicity surrounding January 6,‌ and her⁣ own struggles to find employment.

Apologizing for his actions, Pezzola expressed remorse to his family ⁤and the police. He acknowledged⁤ that he made a grave mistake on January 6​ and stated that he has no intention of being involved in any‌ extremist groups or politics⁤ in the future.

In ‌a sentencing ⁤memorandum submitted to Judge Kelly, ⁤prosecutors revealed that Pezzola had‌ joined the ⁤Proud Boys in November 2020 with ‌the ‌intention⁣ of engaging in⁢ political violence.

‘Willing to Fight’

According to the memorandum, Pezzola’s journal entry stated, ⁢”There‍ are many reasons why I want ‌to join the PBs,” and he⁣ professed ⁤his willingness‍ to⁤ fight until his ⁢last⁣ breath to prevent his children from inheriting what he believed would be a⁣ communist country. He ⁣emphasized his⁤ physical fitness, his ability to‍ be anywhere at any time, and⁢ his view of the political situation as a ⁢battle between good and evil, requiring patriots ‍to stand up and reclaim their God-given liberties, just as the Founders did.

The window on the Senate‍ Wing that Pezzola smashed became the first breach point into the Capitol. Prosecutors argued ‍that this act‍ warranted a terrorism enhancement to​ his sentence.

Proud Boys defendant Dominic Pezzola smashes Capitol windows with a ⁣riot shield on Jan. ‍6, 2021.
Proud Boys defendant Dominic Pezzola smashes Capitol windows with ⁣a⁤ riot ‍shield on Jan. 6, 2021. (U.S. ‌DOJ/Screenshot via The Epoch‌ Times)

Prosecutors highlighted that Pezzola admitted ‌on cross-examination that he smashed the window because he believed it​ would be ‍a way to make the government listen to him.

Using⁣ the stolen shield, Pezzola targeted the two lower panes of tempered glass​ after another rioter had​ already punched a hole in the​ right side of the window‌ with a​ 2-by-4. Once the glass was shattered, ⁤people began jumping through⁢ the ‌window ⁣into⁣ the Capitol.

Prosecutors argued that only a lengthy‍ prison term would ‍deter ​Pezzola from ​committing further ⁢crimes. They cited an interview he gave ⁤after the jury verdicts ​in May, where he ‌referred to the trial ⁢as a “complete sham” and claimed that the Constitution had been “shredded” and​ “re-legislated from the bench”‌ to secure convictions.

Radical Leftist Jury?

Furthermore, ‌Pezzola alleged that the jury consisted⁣ of “all radical leftists” who either ​supported ‍LGBTQ rights or the Black​ Lives Matter movement. He claimed that these individuals despised⁣ everything‍ the Proud Boys stood for,⁢ including their love for God, country, and family.

Attorney Steven Metcalf, representing ‌defendant Dominic⁤ Pezzola for his ​role in the Jan. 6, ​2021, Capitol ​breach, ⁤arrives at the E. ‍Barrett Prettyman United States Courthouse on Dec. 19, 2022.
Attorney Steven Metcalf (2nd from⁣ left), representing⁣ defendant Dominic Pezzola for his role in the Jan.⁤ 6, 2021, Capitol breach, arrives at ‌the E. Barrett ​Prettyman United⁣ States Courthouse⁣ on Dec. 19, 2022. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)

The sentencing of Dominic Pezzola serves as a ⁣significant ⁣milestone ‌in holding⁢ individuals accountable‌ for their actions during the Capitol riot. As the legal proceedings continue,‌ the nation awaits‌ the outcomes ⁤of ⁤the pending sentencing hearings for ⁢other prominent Proud Boys leaders.



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