A former Washington, D.C., police officer, Shane Lamond, who was convicted for obstructing justice and leaking confidential information to Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio, has won a significant legal victory in his case.
A judge ruled that Lamond should not be labeled as a domestic terrorist, despite his association with the January 6 events at the U.S. Capitol.
The Case Against Lamond
Lamond, who once headed the Metropolitan Police Department’s Intelligence Branch, was found guilty in December of obstructing justice and lying to investigators.
These charges were related to his actions surrounding Tarrio’s impending arrest for his involvement in the destruction of a Black Lives Matter banner at a Washington, D.C., church in December 2020. Lamond was sentenced in June 2024 to 18 months in prison.
His legal troubles, however, did not stop there. Upon being assigned to serve his sentence, Lamond’s legal team discovered that he had been slated to serve time at Federal Correctional Institute (FCI) Atlanta, a higher-security facility typically used for inmates convicted of more serious crimes.
This assignment stemmed from the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) policy of labeling any crimes linked to the January 6 Capitol attack as “domestic terrorism,” an enhancement that would preclude Lamond from being sent to a lower-security prison.
The Legal Battle Over His Prison Assignment
Lamond’s attorneys argued that as a non-violent first offender, he should be sent to a low-security facility rather than one that houses more dangerous criminals.
They filed a motion requesting that U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson issue a specific recommendation to the BOP, making it clear that Lamond was not connected to the January 6 insurrection or the associated violence.
In a court ruling on Friday, Jackson clarified Lamond’s conviction, stating that Lamond was “NOT convicted of a January 6 offense” and his conviction had no connection to the Capitol riot or any actions that could be classified as “domestic terrorism.”
The judge’s ruling further specified that the decision should be reflected in Lamond’s official sentencing documents.
Clarification and Court Orders
The clarification from Judge Jackson was important for Lamond’s legal team to avoid the “domestic terrorism” label, which could have subjected him to harsher prison conditions.
The judge granted Lamond’s request for a delay in his reporting date to the BOP, extending the deadline to October 1, 2025, giving Lamond and his defense team more time to address the situation.
In response to the ruling, Lamond’s attorneys expressed their satisfaction with the clarification, stating that it would prevent unnecessary punishment based on an association that was not related to the charges he was convicted of.
Background on Lamond’s Actions and Tarrio’s Sentence
During Lamond’s trial, federal prosecutors revealed that Lamond had been secretly helping the Proud Boys, including Tarrio, by leaking confidential police information to him. This was deemed as an act of betrayal against his duties as a law enforcement officer.
In September 2023, Tarrio was sentenced to over 20 years in prison for his role in the January 6 Capitol attack.
However, in January 2025, President Donald Trump granted clemency to individuals involved in the January 6 riot, potentially affecting Tarrio’s sentence. Lamond, though not involved in the Capitol attack itself, faces his own set of legal consequences, which will now be determined without the “domestic terrorism” enhancement.
Shane Lamond’s legal fight continues, but his latest victory in court prevents him from being unfairly labeled as part of the January 6 domestic terrorism group.
This ruling offers a glimpse into the complexities of sentencing for individuals connected to the Capitol riot, as well as the delicate balance courts must strike between protecting public safety and ensuring fair punishment based on the crimes committed.
