Proud Boys leader was ‘prolific’ informer for law enforcement

[Invisible Man]

Proud Boys leader was ‘prolific’ informer for law enforcement

Enrique Tarrio, the leader of the Proud Boys extremist group, has a past as an informer for federal and local law enforcement, repeatedly working undercover for investigators after he was arrested in 2012, according to a former prosecutor and a transcript of a 2014 federal court proceeding obtained by Reuters.In the Miami hearing, a federal prosecutor, a Federal Bureau of Investigation agent and Tarrio's own lawyer described his undercover work and said he had helped authorities prosecute more than a dozen people in various cases involving drugs, gambling and human smuggling.

Tarrio, in an interview with Reuters Tuesday, denied working undercover or cooperating in cases against others. "I don't know any of this," he said, when asked about the transcript. "I don't recall any of this."

Law-enforcement officials and the court transcript contradict Tarrio's denial. In a statement to Reuters, the former federal prosecutor in Tarrio's case, Vanessa Singh Johannes, confirmed that "he cooperated with local and federal law enforcement, to aid in the prosecution of those running other, separate criminal enterprises, ranging from running marijuana grow houses in Miami to operating pharmaceutical fraud schemes."

Tarrio, 36, is a high-profile figure who organizes and leads the right-wing Proud Boys in their confrontations with those they believe to be Antifa, short for "anti-fascism," an amorphous and often violent leftist movement. The Proud Boys were involved in the deadly insurrection at the Capitol January 6.

The records uncovered by Reuters are startling because they show that a leader of a far-right group now under intense scrutiny by law enforcement was previously an active collaborator with criminal investigators.

Washington police arrested Tarrio in early January when he arrived in the city two days before the Capitol Hill riot. He was charged with possessing two high-capacity rifle magazines, and burning a Black Lives Matter banner during a December demonstration by supporters of former President Donald Trump. The D.C. Superior Court ordered him to leave the city pending a court date in June.

Though Tarrio did not take part in the Capitol insurrection, at least five Proud Boys members have been charged in the riot. The FBI previously said Tarrio's earlier arrest was an effort to preempt the events of January 6.

The transcript from 2014 shines a new light on Tarrio's past connections to law enforcement. During the hearing, the prosecutor and Tarrio's defense attorney asked a judge to reduce the prison sentence of Tarrio and two co-defendants. They had pleaded guilty in a fraud case related to the relabeling and sale of stolen diabetes test kits.

The prosecutor said Tarrio's information had led to the prosecution of 13 people on federal charges in two separate cases, and had helped local authorities investigate a gambling ring.

Tarrio's then-lawyer Jeffrey Feiler said in court that his client had worked undercover in numerous investigations, one involving the sale of anabolic steroids, another regarding "wholesale prescription narcotics" and a third targeting human smuggling. He said Tarrio helped police uncover three marijuana grow houses, and was a "prolific" cooperator.
In the smuggling case, Tarrio, "at his own risk, in an undercover role met and negotiated to pay $11,000 to members of that ring to bring in fictitious family members of his from another country," the lawyer said in court.

In an interview, Feiler said he did not recall details about the case but added, "The information I provided to the court was based on information provided to me by law enforcement and the prosecutor."

An FBI agent at the hearing called Tarrio a "key component" in local police investigations involving marijuana, cocaine and MDMA, or ecstasy. The Miami FBI office declined comment.

There is no evidence Tarrio has cooperated with authorities since then. In interviews with Reuters, however, he said that before rallies in various cities, he would let police departments know of the Proud Boys' plans. It is unclear if this was actually the case. He said he stopped this coordination after December 12 because the D.C. police had cracked down on the group.

Tarrio on Tuesday acknowledged that his fraud sentence was reduced, from 30 months to 16 months, but insisted that leniency was provided only because he and his co-defendants helped investigators "clear up" questions about his own case. He said he never helped investigate others.

That comment contrasts with statements made in court by the prosecutor, his lawyer and the FBI. The judge in the case, Joan A. Lenard, said Tarrio "provided substantial assistance in the investigation and prosecution of other persons involved in criminal conduct."

https://news.trust.org/item/20210127130008-0o116

 

[wizardwatson]

Do we still have faith that ANY of these organizations aren't co-opted to the core?

Remember how fast they got the Tea Party.

CFL has credibility in my mind, but we don't use it.

Not saying CFL "is the way", but it seems that what has potential we ignore, and what is co-opted and controlled my MSM narrative, that's what follow, believe in, admire, and even when we are against it or hate it, we constantly talk about it.

Trapped in the hall of mirrors.

 

[jkr]

remeber when he was "arrested" with an orgy of evidence and "removed" and told...HAHAHAHA NOT TO COME BACK!?!?!?

U BURNED B I T C H!


ya hate to see it, BUT I SAW IT A MILE AWAY!

 

[Gaius Marius]

remeber when he was "arrested" with an orgy of evidence and "removed" and told...HAHAHAHA NOT TO COME BACK!?!?!?

U BURNED B I T C H!


ya hate to see it, BUT I SAW IT A MILE AWAY!

I guess we shouldn't be surprised. Lech Walesa was allegedly an informant on Solidarity for the Communist Party in Poland.

 

[enhanced_deficit]

Does it mean pro-Trump group Proud Boys, that media had labeled "far right", was a fake front group and was actually helping weed out "white nationalists", "extremists"?

Even so, highly doubt that pro-LE Trump or Roger Stone were informed about "pro Trump" group's inside plays and were in on it. They didn't call him DJTvsg for nothin.

"It's Going Down"

Also, no indication that White House spox, rising star Rafael "Ted" Cruz or Parlerers were in on it.

https://twitter.com/Z_Everson/status/1311140959749578754

Proud Boys Founder Announces He’s Suing Biden, CNN and Reporters

Chase Bank Shuts Down Proud Boys Leader’s Personal Bank Account

...

Potentially Related

Dangerous conspiracy theories on Right claim MAGA fake frontgroup

 

[Anti Federalist]

 

[sparebulb]

So...........

The accused says that he's not a snitch.

But his lawyer says that he can't remember any of the details, but offers this information to the judge that was offered by the persecutor and the feds?

Wow.

What to believe?

Surely, the persecutor and feds aren't fibbing, are they?

Smearing someone as a snitch wouldn't ever possibly cause them difficulty or risk, would it?

 

[pcosmar]

https://news.trust.org/item/20210127130008-0o116

As I remember he was Also Arrested just days before the Capitol Rally..

but would not doubt Provocateurs were among the groups.

Would also be no surprise that leadership of groups (most of them) is under Fusion Center Guidance.

 

[TheCount]

Hahahahahahahahahahaha

 

[acptulsa]

If partisanship will save us from the tyrants [MENTION=65299]Swordsmyth[/MENTION] [MENTION=3752]eleganz[/MENTION] [MENTION=21628]Contumacious[/MENTION], why are the tyrants encouraging us to be partisan?

 

[enhanced_deficit]

Canada just turned on them, assuming media reports are accurate.

 

[dannno]

 

[PRB]

Gavin must be proud.

 

[Invisible Man]

I see Milo is back to not trying to suppress his flaming homosexuality anymore.