On January 6th, the United States witnessed a storming of the Capitol Building by pro-Trump supporters looking to disrupt the Congress proceedings. The U.S. Justice Department has now sentenced a member of Proud Boys, the far-right extremist group, to three years in prison for taking part in the Capitol insurrection.
Dominic Pezzola, 43, pleaded guilty to federal rioting and obstruction of an official proceeding charges filed in connection with the attack. Pezzola was accused of being in the middle of the crowd that unlawfully entered the Capitol building. He was seen in video footage reaching down to pick up a police riot shield and bashing a window with it in order to gain entry into the Capitol.
According to reports, Pezzola and his Proud Boys companion, William Pepe, had earlier made a plan to participate in the Capitol insurrection in spite of the risks and possible consequences which could take place.
The Justice Department has stated that in the plea agreement, Pezzola actively and fully cooperated with the investigation and provided valuable assistance to the prosecution. He felt guilty for his actions, the plea agreement states, and wanted to make a positive change in the country.
Testimonies given during the sentencing highlighted Pezzola’s cooperation and apeparance of remorse. Kenneth Kohl, a special counsel, noted that Pezzola “engaged in a level of cooperation with no doubt that it was very meaningful and substantial to the government’s investigation.”
The judge, Trevor McFadden, eventually sentenced Pezzola to four years federal prison and three years supervised probation, deciding that the cooperation justified a below-guidelines sentence.
In a statement after the sentencing, FBI Washington Field Office Assistant Director in Charge Molly Gaston said the defendant’s sentence was fair punishment and was well-deserved for taking part in the Capitol attack.
“Pezzola assaulted U.S. Government officers defending the Capitol and subsequently chose to cooperate with the government to accept responsibility for his criminal actions,” Gaston said. “The FBI remains committed to holding accountable everyone who participated in the Capitol insurrection.”
Overall, the defendant’s sentence is a reminder that all actions have consequences and, in this case, cooperation pays off. Pezzola’s story serves as an example of how justice can come in different forms, and the decision to work with the government was rewarded with a lesser sentence.
