Missouri, USA:Sai Varshith Kandula, a 20-year-old Indian-American from St. Louis, Missouri, has been sentenced to eight years in federal prison for his failed plot to attack the White House with a rented truck in May 2023. Kandula’s actions were part of a broader scheme to overthrow the U.S. government and establish a dictatorship inspired by Nazi ideology.

The sentencing, announced on January 16, 2024, was led by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, with support from the U.S. Secret Service, FBI, U.S. Park Police, and the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). Kandula pled guilty to willfully damaging U.S. property on May 13, 2024, and was also ordered to serve three years of supervised release after completing his prison term.

Kandula, originally from Chandanagar, India, arrived in Washington, D.C., on May 22, 2023, with a one-way ticket. After renting a truck, he drove to the White House and deliberately crashed into security barriers near the intersection of H Street and 16th Street Northwest at approximately 9:35 p.m. His actions caused pedestrians to flee, as he struck the barriers twice, disabling the vehicle, which began emitting smoke and leaking fluids.

After the crash, Kandula exited the truck, retrieved a red-and-white Nazi flag from his backpack, and displayed it. He was promptly arrested by U.S. Park Police and Secret Service officers.

Kandula’s plea agreement revealed that he aimed to overthrow the democratic government and establish a dictatorship under his rule. He admitted to investigators that he was willing to take violent measures, including killing the U.S. President, to accomplish his goal. His actions were seen as a deliberate attempt to intimidate and influence the government.

The attack caused $4,322 in damages to National Park Service property, including repairs to the damaged barriers and cleanup of hazardous materials.

Court documents further disclosed that Kandula had been planning the attack for weeks, unsuccessfully trying to hire armed guards and rent larger commercial vehicles, such as a tractor-trailer or dump truck, to carry out the assault.

The investigation was led by the U.S. Secret Service, FBI Washington Field Office, U.S. Park Police, and MPD. The case was prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Alex Schneider and Assistant U.S. Attorney Shehzad Akhtar.