Enrique Tarrio, the former president of the far-right Proud Boys, received a 22-year federal prison sentence for seditious conspiracy in relation to the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. His sentence is the longest among the cases related to that event to date, surpassing the 18-year sentence given to Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes, also convicted of seditious conspiracy.

Tarrio was one of four members of the Proud Boys found guilty of seditious conspiracy in May. Federal prosecutors initially sought a sentence of 33 years in prison, but U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly imposed lower sentences on the other defendants, NBC News reported.

Last week, Joe Biggs was sentenced to 17 years, Zachary Rehl to 15 years and Ethan Nordean to 18 years. Proud Boy Dominic Pezzola, the fifth defendant, was found not guilty of the top charge of seditious conspiracy but guilty of other charges; he was sentenced to 10 years”.

Attorney General Merrick B. Garland highlighted the central role of the Proud Boys in leading efforts to storm the Capitol and stressed that the sentencing of Tarrio and other members reflects the seriousness of their crimes against democracy.

Although Tarrio was not present at the Capitol during the attack, prosecutors argued that he strategically calculated his arrest to incite his followers. They described Tarrio as a charismatic, propaganda-savvy leader who inflamed and radicalized his followers, promoting political violence and orchestrating conspiracies. To learn more about the group, check out the analysis text of the Latino Observatory.

Prosecutors contend that his actions constituted a calculated act of terrorism, with the clear intent to influence the government. The judge agreed with this perspective and applied the aggravating factor of terrorism in the case of Tarrio and other defendants of the same group.

Tarrio, prosecutors said, is “intelligent, charming, creative, and articulate — a gifted communicator who excels at attracting followers” who “used those talents to inflame and radicalize untold numbers of followers, promoting political violence in general and orchestrating the charged conspiracies in particular”. “To Tarrio, January 6 was an act of revolution”, prosecutors wrote, according to NBC.

Tarrio’s defense argued that he was a “misguided patriot” who was protesting and deserved a lighter sentence. However, prosecutors said their actions contributed significantly to the events of Jan. 6 and the potential constitutional crisis that could have occurred.

Before he was convicted, Tarrio expressed regret for his actions, apologizing to authorities, citizens, lawmakers and his family. He also tried to downplay his political involvement, saying he did not intend to alter the results of the Jan. 6 election.

This case is one of many related to the attack on the Capitol, with more than 300 people already convicted and arrests underway. The FBI and federal prosecutors continue to seek to hold accountable those who violated laws during the event, while emphasizing respect for First Amendment rights for peaceful demonstrations.