Former head of the Metropolitan Police intelligence unit in Washington, Shane Lamond, was convicted on Monday for providing information to a Proud Boys leader. The indictment came after a bench trial in which Proud Boys chief Enrique Tarrio was also implicated and sentenced to 22 years for seditious conspiracy in connection with the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. U.S. Judge Amy Berman Jackson rendered the guilty verdict, finding Lamond guilty on four counts, including obstruction of justice and three counts of lying to investigators, according to a spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
During the trial, prosecutors argued that Lamond had acted as a “double agent” for the Proud Boys, alerting Tarrio to a warrant out for his arrest related to an incident involving the burning of a Black Lives Matter banner during a prior visit to Washington with the Proud Boys. Testimony from Tarrio was marked by contention, with Tarrio claiming he had misled his fellow Proud Boys about the source of the information he received from within the Metropolitan Police Department.
“I can’t tell you I wanted to go to D.C. to get arrested; that sounds weird,” Tarrio stated while on the stand, clarifying that his intentions were to travel to Washington ahead of January 6 to resolve the issue and stage a spectacle to leverage his arrest for publicity purposes. The trial further revealed that Lamond had violated his duties by providing confidential information to a source, obstructing the investigation into that source, and misleading federal investigators.
Matthew Graves, U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, emphasized that Lamond’s actions had compromised public safety by breaching the trust placed in him. Graves highlighted that as a law enforcement official, Lamond was expected to uphold the law, which he failed to do in this instance. David Sundberg, FBI assistant director in charge of the Washington Field Office, condemned Lamond’s misconduct, stating that he had betrayed his oath by unlawfully sharing confidential information, impeding an investigation, and providing false information to authorities.
The case drew attention to the issue of public officials abusing their positions of power and trust, prompting FBI efforts to hold such individuals accountable. Sundberg underscored the FBI’s commitment to ensuring that those who misuse their authority face legal consequences, emphasizing the importance of upholding ethical standards within law enforcement.
In a separate development, former President Donald Trump has expressed intentions to pardon individuals implicated in the January 6 events upon assuming office. However, the extent of Trump’s knowledge regarding specific cases remains unclear, with sources indicating that he may not be fully informed about the details of the legal proceedings involving over 1,500 defendants charged in connection with January 6.
Lamond’s defense contended that his interactions with Tarrio were part of his official duties. However, prosecutors presented evidence showing Lamond’s personal support for the Proud Boys, even following the events of January 6. In one instance, Lamond reportedly expressed his backing for the group, stating.
