Shane Lamond, the former head of the Metropolitan Police Department's intelligence unit in Washington, D.C., was convicted Monday of obstruction of justice and lying to federal investigators in a high-profile case linking him to the Proud Boys. The verdict, delivered by U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson following a bench trial, underscores the deep ties between Lamond and Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio, who is serving a 22-year sentence for seditious conspiracy in connection with the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol.
Lamond, 48, was accused of acting as a "double agent" for the Proud Boys, providing sensitive information about law enforcement plans to Tarrio, prosecutors argued during the trial. Evidence presented by the government revealed that Lamond had tipped off Tarrio about an arrest warrant issued for him related to the burning of a Black Lives Matter banner during a prior Proud Boys rally in Washington.
Prosecutors introduced text messages in which Lamond expressed sympathy for the far-right group. "Of course, I can't say it officially," Lamond reportedly wrote to Tarrio, "but personally, I support you all and don't want to see your group's name or reputation dragged through the mud."
Tarrio, who testified during the trial, described his interaction with Lamond as part of a strategy to use his arrest for publicity. Tarrio said he wanted to travel to Washington two days before January 6 to get this over with, referring to his desire to stage what he called a "circus tent" as a marketing ploy. Tarrio was arrested on January 4, two days before the Capitol breach, and subsequently ordered to leave the city.
Lamond's defense argued that his communications with Tarrio fell within the scope of his duties as an intelligence officer tasked with monitoring extremist groups. His attorney, Mark Schamel, called the verdict "unbelievably disappointing" and said Lamond's actions had been misinterpreted. "There is nothing disloyal about him at all, and it's a sad day for him," Schamel told reporters outside the courthouse.
However, the prosecution maintained that Lamond's actions went beyond professional responsibilities, painting him as an insider who undermined the police department's efforts to monitor and mitigate threats posed by the Proud Boys. The group played a central role in the Capitol attack, with several of its leaders, including Tarrio, convicted of seditious conspiracy earlier this year.
The trial also illuminated the extent of communication between Lamond and Tarrio, which spanned from July 2019 to January 2021. Prosecutors said Lamond provided updates on law enforcement's movements and plans during the months leading up to the Capitol riot.
Lamond's conviction comes amid heightened scrutiny of the January 6 attack and its broader implications for law enforcement and public trust. While more than 1,100 individuals have been convicted or charged in connection with the riot, the case against Lamond represents a rare instance of a law enforcement officer being implicated in aiding participants in the insurrection.
Former President Donald Trump, who has vowed to pardon many January 6 defendants if reelected, has not publicly commented on Lamond's case. According to sources familiar with Trump's plans, it remains unclear whether Tarrio or other high-profile defendants like him would be among those considered for clemency.
