High-level Proud Boys member pleads guilty to Jan. 6 seditious conspiracy charge
A senior member of the Proud Boys pleaded guilty to seditious conspiracy, the most serious charge that's been leveled against individuals tied to Jan. 6.
A senior member of the Proud Boys, a far-right extremist group, pleaded guilty Thursday to seditious conspiracy, the most serious charge that has been leveled against individuals tied to the Jan. 6 riot.
Jeremy Bertino, of North Carolina, is the first Proud Boy to plead guilty to the charge in connection with last year's attack on the U.S. Capitol.
U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly accepted Bertino’s guilty plea and agreement to fully cooperate with prosecutors, according to government statements made during the plea agreement hearing Thursday.
Five other members of the Proud Boys, including the group's former national chairman, Enrique Tarrio, were indicted in June on seditious conspiracy and other charges. They are awaiting trial after having pleaded not guilty.
A court filing detailing the counts against Bertino, 43, said he "did knowingly combine, conspire, confederate, and agree" with Tarrio and group members Ethan Nordean, Joseph Biggs, Zachary Rehl, Charles Donohoe, Dominic Pezzola and others to oppose authority of the government by force “to delay by force the execution of the laws governing the transfer of power.”
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