Volusia County Proud Boys leader Joe Biggs sentenced to 17 years in prison

Volusia County Proud Boys leader Joe Biggs was sentenced Thursday to 17 years in federal prison for his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, attacks on the Capitol.

Biggs, who lived in unincorporated Volusia County near Ormond Beach, was convicted along with other Proud Boys members and leaders, at a federal trial in Washington, D.C., earlier this year.

Biggs was convicted of seditious conspiracy; conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding; obstruction of an official proceeding; conspiracy to use force, intimidation or threats to prevent officers of the United States from discharging their duties; interference with law enforcement during a civil disorder; and destruction of government property.

Federal prosecutors had asked a judge to sentence Biggs to 33 years in prison, arguing his sentence should be enhanced because his actions that day amounted to “terrorism.”

U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly enhanced the sentence based on ruling that the crimes constituted terrorism because they were intended to influence the government. Kelly said he aimed for the sentence to deter future violence and protect the public.

“I know that I messed up that day,” Biggs told the judge just before being sentenced, “but I’m not a terrorist.”

Biggs' is second-longest sentence so far

Biggs' sentence is the second-longest related to the riot. Stewart Rhodes, former leader of the Oath Keepers, was sentenced to 18 years for seditious conspiracy and other crimes.

Biggs tore down a fence, charged up scaffolding and was among the first rioters to breach the Capitol, prosecutors said. Biggs entered the building a second time and went to the Senate chamber, prosecutors said.

In a previous court document, government prosecutors said a lengthy sentence was needed to protect the country.

“The court must impose a long enough sentence to prevent Biggs from leading another violent conspiracy against the government while he is still motivated and equipped to do so,” according to the sentencing memorandum.

Biggs' defense attorney, Norman A. Pattis, suggested in a previous court document a sentence of time served or a term that would allow Biggs to return home in the "very near future."

Biggs was the focus of dramatic testimony by U.S. Capitol Police Officer Caroline Edwards during congressional hearings last year. Edwards testified that it was Biggs who focused the crowd of rioters on the handful of officers near the northwest corner of the Capitol grounds. Edwards testified she knew when she was being turned "into a villain."

Biggs also worked for conspiracy theorist Alex Jones at Infowars, where Biggs described his job as an “investigative journalist.”

Jones' was sued for making defamatory statements about the Sandy Hook shooting and plaintiffs were awarded $1.5 billion in damages. On Dec. 2, 2022, he filed for personal bankruptcy.

Biggs served as a cannon crewmember in the Army Reserve from November 2004 to October 2007 and was active Army from October 2007 to February 2012, according to the U.S. Army. He was deployed to Iraq and later to Afghanistan and left the service with the rank of sergeant.

Biggs’ awards and decorations include the Purple Heart, Army Commendation Medal, the Combat Action Badge and the Army Achievement Medal.

Prosecutors have pointed to Biggs’ military service to argue that he should have known better than to participate in the attack on the Capitol.

Bart Jansen of USA Today contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Proud Boys member Joe Biggs gets 17 years in prison for insurrection role