A former police officer from Florida and a member of the Proud Boys, Nathaniel Tuck, has been sentenced to 14 months in prison for his role in the January 6 Capitol riot. The sentencing, handed down by U.S. District Judge Timothy J. Kelly, follows Tuck’s guilty plea to obstructing law enforcement during a civil disturbance and trespassing.
Tuck, 32, was part of the Proud Boys’ “Space Coast” chapter and traveled to Washington, D.C., with his father and other members of the group. Prosecutors revealed that Tuck actively planned and coordinated with his group for weeks leading up to the events of January 6, intending to disrupt the certification of the 2020 presidential election.
On the day of the riot, Tuck and his group were among the first wave to breach Capitol grounds at 12:53 p.m. They pushed past officers and entered the Capitol building at around 2:18 p.m., where Tuck reportedly made physical contact with at least one officer. Once inside, he joined others in taunting police officers and made comments about stimulus checks. Tuck stayed in the Capitol for nearly an hour before leaving at 3:12 p.m. Afterward, he joined his fellow Proud Boys for a celebratory photo outside.
Text messages from that day show Tuck telling family members, “Fought the police.” In later conversations, as the FBI began arresting members of his group, Tuck expressed frustration, claiming the government was “overcharging” them. His father responded with optimism, saying, “We may lose this battle but we will win the war,” and even hinted at future lawsuits. Tuck replied, “Politics won’t save us. Violence is the only way we will win.”
Tuck’s attorney, William L. Shipley, argued for probation, stating that Tuck was not violent during the riot and primarily observed the actions of others. He described Tuck as a devoted husband and father to a young child. Prosecutors, however, sought a two-year prison sentence, emphasizing Tuck’s role as a former police officer. Tuck had served with the Longwood Police Department and later the Apopka Police Department before resigning in October 2020, citing dissatisfaction stemming from the fallout of George Floyd’s death in Minnesota earlier that year.
Tuck’s father, also a former police officer, has pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge and is awaiting sentencing.
The Capitol riot has led to over 1,488 people being charged with crimes, marking a historic moment in U.S. law enforcement efforts. Among Tuck’s codefendants is Arthur Jackman, another Proud Boys member who was seen alongside Joseph Biggs, a former contributor to a media outlet. Biggs and Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio were convicted of seditious conspiracy, with Tarrio receiving the longest sentence so far at 22 years.
The story of Nathaniel Tuck serves as a stark reminder of the lasting consequences for those involved in the events of January 6.
