Retired Washington, D.C., Police Officer Convicted of Lying to Authorities About Leaking Information to Proud Boys Leader
A retired Washington, D.C., police officer, Shane Lamond, was convicted on Monday of obstructing justice and making false statements after a trial without a jury. U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson found Lamond guilty of leaking confidential information to the leader of the far-right Proud Boys organization, Enrique Tarrio. Lamond, who used to supervise the intelligence branch of the police department’s Homeland Security Bureau, was charged with leaking information to Tarrio, who was under investigation for the burning of a Black Lives Matter banner.
Sentencing for Lamond was scheduled for April 3 after he was convicted on all four counts. The trial revealed that Lamond had been in communication with Tarrio and had provided him with sensitive police information. Despite Lamond’s testimony denying these allegations, the judge did not find his or Tarrio’s testimony to be credible. Jackson stated that the evidence indicated that Lamond was not using Tarrio as a source after the banner burning, but rather the other way around.
The judge highlighted a pattern in the messages exchanged between Lamond and Tarrio, indicating that Lamond would share information with Tarrio, who would then disseminate it. Jackson referred to Tarrio as an “awful witness” who displayed flippant, grandiose, and obnoxious behavior on the stand. Following the verdict, Lamond’s defense attorney, Mark Schamel, expressed disappointment and stated that it was premature to determine if there would be an appeal.
Tarrio, who eventually pleaded guilty to burning the stolen Black Lives Matter banner, was later sentenced to 22 years in prison for his involvement in the January 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol. Lamond, who had met Tarrio in 2019, had supervised the intelligence branch responsible for monitoring groups like the Proud Boys when they visited Washington. Prosecutors presented evidence during the trial that Lamond had tipped off Tarrio about an arrest warrant and had provided him with updates on the police investigation.
Lamond’s indictment outlined exchanges between him and Tarrio discussing the January 6 riot and the potential charges against Proud Boys members. In one message, Lamond expressed support for the group and stated that he did not want to see their name and reputation tarnished. Despite testifying that he did not support the Proud Boys and was not a sympathizer, Lamond’s messages suggested otherwise.
During the trial, Lamond maintained that he considered Tarrio to be a source rather than a friend and was trying to build a rapport with him to gain his trust. However, Justice Department prosecutor Joshua Rothstein pointed to messages that indicated Lamond provided Tarrio with real-time updates on the police investigation. Lamond, who retired in May 2023 after 23 years of service, faced charges of obstruction of justice and making false statements.
The case shed light on the complexities of relationships between law enforcement officials and extremist groups, highlighting the importance of maintaining integrity and upholding the law. The conviction of Lamond serves as a reminder of the consequences of abusing power and breaching the trust placed in law enforcement officers. As the legal proceedings continue, the implications of this case will resonate within the law enforcement community and beyond.
