A Proud Boys leader involved in the Jan. 6 Capitol incursion was sentenced to 17 years in prison.
Joseph Biggs, 37, received the news Thursday from U.S. District Court Judge Timothy Kelly.
#BREAKING: Proud Boy Joseph Biggs hit with 17-year prison sentence over Jan. 6 convictionhttps://t.co/lgzcymoIm1
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) August 31, 2023
"Biggs was convicted in May, along with three co-defendants, of seditious conspiracy and conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, among other charges, for his role in leading a group of about 200 to breach the Capitol," the Washington Examiner reported.
"A fifth co-defendant was acquitted of the seditious conspiracy charge but was convicted of several others," it added.
Sad boys: Proud Boys leaders sentenced to a combined 32 years for Jan. 6 attack : NPR https://t.co/MSR8Ssd0Zd
— Frank Figliuzzi (@FrankFigliuzzi1) August 31, 2023
"The sentence is far below the 33-year sentence for Biggs and the 30 years for Rehl sought by prosecutors," NPR reported.
"Both penalties are also below the most severe sentence of 18 years given to Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes in his separate seditious conspiracy conviction for his actions during Jan. 6," it noted.
Before sentencing, Rehl broke down into
tears😭as he pleaded for leniency from Kelly."I'm done with politics," he said. "I'm done peddling lies for people that don't care about me... Jan. 6 was a despicable day."😠
Zachary Rehl received 15-yrs, lol. 🤣https://t.co/y23CFxxmib
— CalicoBlues (@CalicoBlues) August 31, 2023
"Biggs, a U.S. army veteran, was a close ally of the former Proud Boys chairman Enrique Tarrio. Biggs was convicted of seditious conspiracy in May alongside two other Proud Boys leaders following a more than four-month-long trial," ABC News revealed.
"In handing down his sentence, Judge Kelly accepted the government's recommendation to apply an enhancement that effectively labeled Biggs' crimes as acts of terrorism in seeking to influence the actions of government through threats and use of force," it added.
The sentence was among the strongest against the more than 1,000 people arrested in connection with the events of Jan. 6, 2021.
Former President Donald Trump has also recently been indicted over the events of that day, adding to other indictments in Georgia and Florida as he seeks a comeback bid as president.
The sentencing marks a strong response to Biggs and his involvement at the Capitol as legal rulings continue over two years after the events.
