Proud Boy from Broward sentenced to prison for Jan. 6 breach of U.S. Capitol

Archive: Rioters at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington. Hundreds of people charged with storming the U.S. Capitol three years ago have had a powerful incentive to plead guilty rather than go to trial. An Associated Press review of over 1,200 cases arising from the Jan. 6, 2021, attack found that the average prison sentence for a Capitol riot defendant convicted of a felony after a trial is roughly four years and three months. (AP Photo/John Minchillo) (John Minchillo, Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

WASHINGTON – A Pompano Beach man was sentenced to prison for his actions on Jan. 6.

Kenneth Bonawitz, 58, a member of the Broward chapter of the Proud Boys, was sentenced to 60 months in prison, 36 months of supervised release, and ordered to pay $2,000 in restitution and fines on Wednesday.

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Bonawitz pleaded guilty to felony charges, including civil disorder and obstruction of an official proceeding.

According to court documents, Bonawitz came to the Capitol armed with a knife. Bonawitz assaulted at least six law enforcement officers on the West Plaza. His attacks included hurling himself at officers and tackling them to the ground, placing one officer in a chokehold, and lifting the officer up by the neck.

Investigators said Bonawitz’s attacks injured one officer, who was also a first responder to the September 11, 2001, terrorist attack at the Pentagon, so severely that the officer has now been forced to retire from the United States Capitol Police.

Last week, Gilbert Fonticoba, 49, was sentenced to 48 months in prison followed by 36 months of supervised release.

According to courtroom observers, Fonticoba broke down in tears during sentencing and said, “I have brought shame upon my family through my actions on Jan. 6.”

Fonticoba helped destroy a fence and interfered with officers who were protecting the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6.

After the riot, prosecutors said Fonticoba celebrated with Proud Boys leaders, including Enrique Tarrio, in a Baltimore hotel.

Fonticoba said during a phone conversation, “We breached the f**in’ Capitol hill, brah. We breached the f**in’ Capitol building, brah”, prosecutors said.

He was arrested in Oct. 2021.

According to the Justice Department, Fonticoba had been a member of the “Vice City” chapter of the Proud Boys in Miami since 2019.

According to the Department of Justice, the 36 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,265 individuals have been charged in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including more than 440 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement, a felony.

The investigation remains ongoing.


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