Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio has been arrested in Miami after a federal grand jury indicted him on a conspiracy charge over the January 6 protest.
Tarrio was not in DC on January 6.
In a press release about the arrest, the Department of Justice wrote, "Tarrio, 38, of Miami, Florida, was arrested in Miami and is to make his initial appearance today in the Southern District of Florida. He was named in a superseding indictment returned Monday in the District of Columbia that also includes five previously charged defendants."
Tarrio's mother confirmed to Timcast that a bail hearing is scheduled for 2 p.m.
His mother, who Timcast has decided not to name for her safety, said "this is insane, he wasn't there! If he was, it would have been very different — peaceful!" She added, "today was a display of FBI training force in our Miami home. No need for this!"
The DOJ claims that in "mid-December, Tarrio created a special chapter of the Proud Boys known as the 'Ministry of Self Defense.'""As alleged in the indictment, from in or around December 2020, Tarrio and his co-defendants, all of whom were leaders or members of the Ministry of Self Defense, conspired to corruptly obstruct, influence, and impede an official proceeding, the certification of the Electoral College vote. On Jan. 6, the defendants directed, mobilized, and led members of the crowd onto the Capitol grounds and into the Capitol, leading to dismantling of metal barricades, destruction of property, and assaults on law enforcement," the press release claims.
The indictment alleges that even though Tarrio was not in DC, he was still providing direction for the group.
"Although Tarrio is not accused of physically taking part in the breach of the Capitol, the indictment alleges that he led the advance planning and remained in contact with other members of the Proud Boys during their breach of the Capitol," the DOJ asserts.
Tarrio was arrested on Jan. 4, 2021, on a DC warrant for destruction of property in the burning of a Black Lives Matter banner in December 2020. He was released on January 5, but ordered by the Court to stay out of Washington — which he complied with.
Tarrio was indicted on one count of each conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding and obstruction of an official proceeding, as well as two counts each of assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers and destruction of government property.
There is a fund to help provide for Tarrio's family and legal defense on GiveSendGo.
According to the DOJ, In the 14 months since Jan. 6, more than 775 individuals have been arrested in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol.
