Former D.C. Police Official Sentenced for Leaking Information to Proud Boys Leader: Updates on Shane Lamond's Case
Shane Lamond, the former head of the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department's intelligence division, has been sentenced to 18 months in prison for leaking information to Henry "Enrique" Tarrio, the leader of the Proud Boys, prior to the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack. U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson handed down the sentence, while Tarrio, who was pardoned by President Trump, watched the proceedings. Elmer Stewart Rhodes, leader of the Oath Keepers, was also present in the courthouse. Lamond was convicted of obstruction of justice and lying to federal investigators after a bench trial in Washington, D.C. Prosecutors initially sought a four-year sentence for Lamond.
The FBI and DOJ launched an investigation into Lamond's actions following the burning of a Black Lives Matter banner at a historic Black church in Washington, D.C. Tarrio, who was charged with destroying the banner, received a five-month prison sentence. Prosecutors alleged that Lamond tipped off Tarrio about the investigation and warned him about law enforcement's concerns regarding the Proud Boys' activities in Washington. Lamond failed to disclose his interactions with Tarrio to his colleagues at the police department, including a meeting just days after the banner incident.
During the trial, prosecutors presented evidence of extensive text communications between Lamond and Tarrio, with over 500 messages exchanged. They shifted to encrypted messaging after the 2020 election, raising suspicions about the nature of their conversations. FBI agents testified that Tarrio did not provide significant new information to Lamond and used their communication to his advantage, including coordinating his arrest to create an alibi for the Capitol riot.
Tarrio admitted to misleading his fellow Proud Boys about the impending warrant as a tactic to boost morale within the group. Lamond denied any sympathy for the Proud Boys and refuted claims of being a "double agent." The case continues to develop, and updates will be provided as new information emerges.