In breaking news, D.C. police officer Shane Lamond, who has served on the force for 24 years, has been indicted on charges of reportedly sharing information with Enrique Tarrio, the leader of the right-wing extremist group known as the Proud Boys.
According to prosecutors, it is alleged that… According to sources, Shane Lamond, aged 47, has been in communication with the leader of the Proud Boys, Enrique Tarrio, since July of 2019.
According to official sources, Mr. Lamond has been charged with obstruction of justice and three counts of perjury to investigators.
On Friday, in court, the defendant hailing from Stafford, Virginia, entered a plea of not guilty.
According to sources, the charge of obstruction has a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison.
Additionally, false statements can result in sentences of up to five years each.
According to Marc Chamel, the lawyer representing Mr. Lamond, the latter’s job as an officer necessitated his communication with extremist groups. However, Chamel clarified that Mr. Lamond has never supported their ideologies.
According to Shamel, the evidence to be presented will reveal the fallacy of the unfair charges to the jury.
Lieutenant Mr. Lamond, a member of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) in the District of Columbia, served as an officer for a total of 24 years. During his tenure, he held the position of head of the police intelligence department.
According to the MPD, the officer in question was put on administrative leave in February 2022. This occurred only a few months after he and numerous other officers were bestowed with the “ribbon of valor,” a unique award designed to recognize their efforts during the Capitol Riot.
In a statement released on Friday, the MPD announced that an internal investigation would be initiated in response to allegations made against one of its members.
The statement acknowledged that the matter has elicited a variety of emotions and emphasized that the alleged actions of the member in question are not consistent with the department’s values and dedication to the community. case.
According to prosecutors, there has been communication between Mr. Lamond and Tarrio regarding Proud Boys activity since July 2019. Additionally, an officer has allegedly been providing Tarrio with information regarding police operations.
In December of last year, a Black Lives Matter banner that was stolen from a church was burned by Tarrio. According to an unsealed indictment on Friday,
Mr. Lamond reportedly provided Tarrio with details about an ongoing investigation, including the issuance of an arrest warrant, after law enforcement officials initiated an inquiry into the matter.
According to sources, FBI agents questioned Mr. Lamond regarding his interaction and it has been reported that the officer provided false testimony. According to the individual, he claimed that his discussions with Tarrio were unidirectional, with only Tarrio informing him about their intentions.
According to prosecutors, Mr. Lamond is accused of passing confidential information to Tarrio.
According to prosecutors, the police veteran allegedly obtained potentially valuable information from Tarrio regarding suspected Capitol riots and Proud Boys activities. However, the veteran reportedly failed to share this information with fellow officers.
According to the indictment, the couple engaged in extensive communication, exchanging hundreds of messages through text and chat. It has been reported that at least 101 of these messages were deleted.
On November 7, 2020, following the announcement of Joe Biden’s victory in the election, Mr. Lamond reportedly sent a text message to Tarrio, stating “Hey brother, sad, sad news today.” The reporter asked if there were any plans being made.
According to reports, Tarrio responded with a positive answer. According to the officer, there is a need to switch to encrypted chat.
According to sources, the individual’s contacts persisted following the riot.
According to one of the officer’s messages, “Of course, I can’t say this officially, but personally I support you all.”
During the trial of Tarrio and other Proud Boys leaders for their actions on January 6, 2021, the messages were presented as evidence.
According to defense lawyers, if the group led by Tarrio had been planning to prevent Joe Biden from becoming president, he would not have maintained regular contact with the police officer.
Earlier this month, Tarrio and his co-defendants were found guilty of sedition and other crimes by a jury following a lengthy trial.