Two former leaders of the Proud Boys organization were sentenced today on multiple felony charges related to their roles in the breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.
Their actions disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress that was in the process of ascertaining and counting the electoral votes necessary to certify the 2020 presidential election.
Ethan Nordean, 32, of Auburn, Washington, was sentenced to 18 years in prison and 36 months of supervised release.
Dominic Pezzola, 45, of Rochester, New York, was sentenced to 10 years in prison and 36 months of supervised release.
A jury convicted Nordean, Pezzola and three other co-defendants on May 4, of multiple felonies, including obstruction of an official proceeding and conspiracy to prevent members of Congress or federal officers from discharging their duties before and during the breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Defendant Nordean was previously convicted of seditious conspiracy.
According to court documents and evidence presented during the trial, the Proud Boys organization played a significant and often violent role in Washington, D.C., rallies in November and December 2020.
In the aftermath of that violent conduct, Nordean and other co-defendants served as members and leaders of