Ex-Proud Boys Member Receives 17-Year Sentence for Role in Capitol Riot, Longest Punishment Handed Down in January 6th Incident

A former organizer of the far-right Proud Boys extremist group has been sentenced to 17 years in prison for leading an attack on the U.S. Capitol in an attempt to disrupt the peaceful transfer of power from Donald Trump to Joe Biden after the 2020 presidential election.

Joseph Biggs, the defendant, received the second-longest sentence among the Capitol riot cases, following the 18-year prison term handed down to Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes.

Prosecutors had recommended a 33-year sentence for Biggs, who played a leading role in marching to the Capitol on January 6, 2021, along with other Proud Boys members and associates. The mob they were a part of breached police lines, forcing lawmakers to evacuate and disrupting the certification of Biden’s electoral victory.

U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly called the January 6th attack a violation of an “important American custom” and the peaceful transfer of power. He emphasized that the incident had a significant impact on the process.

Biggs admitted his involvement in the attack but claimed he was “seduced by the crowd” of Trump supporters and stated that he is not a violent person or a terrorist.

Prosecutors defended their decision to seek a 33-year sentence, arguing that Biggs and the Proud Boys committed serious crimes that pushed the U.S. government “to the edge of a constitutional crisis.”

Other members of the Proud Boys who were convicted in a separate trial will also be sentenced, including Enrique Tarrio, the national chairman of the group.

Tarrio wasn’t present at the Capitol on January 6th as he had been arrested two days prior on charges related to defacing a Black Lives Matter banner. He selected Biggs and Ethan Nordean as the group’s leaders in his absence.

Joseph Biggs served in the U.S. Army before being discharged, and later worked as a correspondent for Infowars.

Defense attorneys argued that their clients were being unfairly held responsible for the actions of others at the Capitol.

Over 1,100 people have been charged with Capitol riot-related federal crimes, with over 600 being convicted and sentenced.

In a separate trial last year, six members of the Oath Keepers were also convicted of seditious conspiracy.