A former police officer associated with the far-right Proud Boys extremist organization has been handed a 14-month prison sentence for his participation in the January 6, 2021, assault on the U.S. Capitol, as indicated by court documents released Wednesday.
Nathaniel Tuck, along with other Proud Boys members, including his father, was part of the initial group of rioters who breached the Capitol grounds after the mob pushed through police lines. Prosecutors noted that Tuck, 32, from Apopka, Florida, forcefully passed by law enforcement officers to gain entry into the Capitol and verbally assaulted those attempting to control the crowd. He also took part in a photo session with fellow Proud Boys outside the Capitol to celebrate their actions.
Prosecutors highlighted in their court statements that Tuck actively prepared for and engaged in these actions as a member of the Proud Boys, a group that had openly discussed plans for violence and the desire to confront police on that day. U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly permitted Tuck to remain free until he is required to start his prison term. Additionally, the judge imposed a $2,000 fine, along with $2,000 in restitution, as documented in court files.
In total, over 1,500 individuals have faced charges related to the Capitol riot, with numerous defendants being leaders, members, and associates of the Proud Boys. The incoming president has declared intentions to pardon those involved in the Capitol incident upon reclaiming the presidency but has not articulated whether this would include individuals convicted of violent actions or property destruction.
In September, Tuck pleaded guilty to a felony charge for obstructing law enforcement during a civil disturbance and also to a misdemeanor charge for unlawfully entering a restricted area. Prosecutors had recommended a two-year sentence for him, noting that he was part of the Proud Boys’ “Space Coast” chapter in central Florida.
Nathaniel Tuck served as a police officer in Longwood and Apopka, Florida, from 2012 until 2020. His association with the Proud Boys began in 2018, according to prosecutors. Tuck informed a federal probation officer that he left his policing career in October 2020, attributing his decision to the aftermath of George Floyd’s death.
Tuck was charged alongside his father, Kevin, who is set for sentencing the following Tuesday. At the time of the riot, the 52-year-old Kevin Tuck was also a police officer and a member of the Proud Boys. He pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor.
The Tuck family traveled to Washington, D.C., to join other Proud Boys in launching their attack on the Capitol. Kevin’s defense attorney indicated that Nathaniel did not inflict any violence or damage to property during the events of January 6, suggesting he mostly observed while others engaged in misconduct.
The Proud Boys group is notorious for its clashes with anti-fascist activists, coincidentally gaining significant notoriety after Donald Trump’s remarks during the 2020 presidential debate, when he instructed the group to “stand back and stand by.” The former leader of the group, Enrique Tarrio, along with three subordinates, was convicted of seditious conspiracy for their role in an unruly operation aimed at obstructing the peaceful transition of power following the 2020 election. Tarrio is currently serving a 22-year sentence, the longest incurred in relation to the Capitol riot incidents.
