A former police officer, Nathaniel Tuck, has been sentenced to 14 months in prison for his involvement in the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. Tuck, a member of the far-right Proud Boys extremist group, was among the rioters who breached Capitol grounds during the violent mob incited by supporters of then-President Donald Trump.
Prosecutors revealed that Tuck, along with other Proud Boys, forcibly entered the Capitol, confronting and berating police officers in the process. He was part of a group that openly discussed plans for violence and intended to confront law enforcement at the Capitol.
Despite pleading guilty to obstructing law enforcement and entering a restricted area, Tuck will remain free until he reports to prison to serve his sentence. In addition to the prison term, he has been ordered to pay a $2,000 fine and $2,000 in restitution.
More than 1,500 individuals have faced charges related to the Capitol riot, with several being associated with the Proud Boys organization. Tuck's father, Kevin Tuck, who was also involved in the riot, is set to be sentenced next week.
Nathaniel Tuck, who served as a police officer from 2012 to 2020, joined the Proud Boys in 2018. He cited the events surrounding George Floyd's death as a reason for leaving his law enforcement career.
Defense attorney William Shipley argued that Tuck did not engage in violent acts or property damage during the riot, primarily observing the actions of others in the group.
The Proud Boys, known for their confrontations with anti-fascist groups, gained notoriety when Trump urged them to 'stand back and stand by' during a 2020 presidential debate. The group's former leader, Enrique Tarrio, and three associates were convicted of seditious conspiracy for their role in a violent plot to disrupt the transfer of power from Trump to President Joe Biden.
Tarrio is currently serving a 22-year prison sentence, the longest among Capitol riot cases.
