The former national chairman of the Proud Boys, Enrique Tarrio, is facing a potential 33-year prison sentence. This comes as the Justice Department seeks to impose what could be the longest punishment ever handed down in the massive Jan. 6 prosecution.

The severity of this proposed sentence raises eyebrows, especially when compared to other recent sentences for violent crimes.

In July, a man who opened fire in a classroom, injuring three people, was sentenced to 12 years in prison. Similarly, in August, a drunk driver who killed one person and critically injured another was also given a 12-year sentence.

Even an attempted murderer was handed the same 12-year sentence in June. Yet, Tarrio, who was not even present at the Capitol riot, is facing nearly triple that time behind bars.

Tarrio’s conviction stems from his role in the Proud Boys. Despite not being present during the Capitol riot, he was convicted of seditious conspiracy for allegedly conspiring to block the transfer of presidential power.

This conviction has been seen by some as a top target in what has become the largest Justice Department investigation in American history.

However, the case against Tarrio is not without its controversies. He was arrested prior to January 6 for burning a Black Lives Matter flag at a rally.

Following his release from jail, he met with Stewart Rhodes, founder of the Oath Keepers, who himself received an 18-year sentence for seditious conspiracy. This meeting, facilitated by an undercover FBI agent, raised questions about the government’s role in the case.

Further adding to the intrigue, it was revealed that at least 40 undercover government operatives were embedded in the Proud Boys prior to January 6. This revelation, coupled with the fact Tarrio was a federal informant, led to a significant decrease in public support for him and the Proud Boys.

The trial itself was also fraught with controversy. The jury, which consisted of individuals who openly supported Antifa, the Women’s March, and Black Lives Matter, characterized the Proud Boys as a group of “white supremacists.”

Despite this, every witness during the trial, including the government’s key witnesses, stated there was no plan or conspiracy created or disseminated by the Proud Boys ahead of January 6.

In an interview with InfoWars, Tarrio addressed these claims, warning the government was attempting to frame the Proud Boys. 

As Jonathon Mosely, an attorney who previously represented Tarrio’s co-defendant Zachary Rehl, warns, if the Proud Boys verdict “is not fixed on appeal, it’s going to change the entire law for the entire country, all criminal prosecution.”