Proud Boy Ethan Nordean sentenced to 18 years in prison, tying for highest Jan. 6 sentence

by Ella Lee - 09/01/23 5:10 PM ET

FILE – Proud Boys members Zachary Rehl, left, and Ethan Nordean, left, walk toward the U.S. Capitol in Washington, in support of President Donald Trump, Jan. 6, 2021. An upcoming hearing of the U.S. House Committee probing the Jan. 6 insurrection is expected to examine ties between people in former President Donald Trump’s orbit and extremist groups who played a role in the Capitol riot. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File)

Proud Boy Ethan Nordean was sentenced Friday to 18 years in prison for his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack — a tie for the longest sentence handed down in connection with the riot.

A Washington state chapter leader of the right-wing extremist group, Nordean was convicted in May of seditious conspiracy and other serious felonies. He served as a leader in a special Proud Boys chapter called the Ministry of Self Defense, a group made up of “real men” dispatched to Washington, D.C., on Jan. 6, 2021.

Nordean said Friday that he now views Jan. 6 as a “complete and utter tragedy,” according to The Associated Press.

“To anyone who I directly or even indirectly wronged, I’m sorry,” he told the court.

U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly applied a terrorism enhancement to Nordean’s sentencing guidelines, according to a Justice Department (DOJ) release.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason McCullough on Friday described Nordean as “the undisputed leader on the ground on Jan. 6,” AP reported. Prosecutors requested a 27-year sentence for Nordean.

Nordean’s sentence is tied in length with Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes, who was sentenced to 18 years in prison in May.

The Proud Boys defendants have received some of the highest sentences given for participating in the Capitol attack. On Thursday, Joe Biggs was sentenced to 17 years in prison, and Zachary Rehl was sentenced to 15 years — the second and third highest sentences handed down. Dominic Pezzola on Friday received a sentence of 10 years in prison.

Enrique Tarrio, former national chairman of the right-wing extremist group, is set to be sentenced next week. His sentence was originally scheduled for Wednesday but was canceled after Kelly, the judge, got sick.

The Proud Boys’ sentencings close the book on the historic seditious conspiracy cases brought by the DOJ after the Capitol was attacked.

More than 1,100 rioters have been charged across the country for their roles in that day.

Updated at 5:24 p.m. ET

Tags Enrique Tarrio Ethan Nordean Jan 6 Jan. 6 Capitol attack proud Boys Stewart Rhodes Timothy Kelly