'His actions were..': 20-year-old Indian-origin man sentenced to 8 years of prison for attempting attack on White House

Indian national Sai Varshith Kandula, 20, has been sentenced to eight years in prison for his attempted attack on the White House on May 22, 2023. The incident involved a rented truck and a plan to overthrow the American government, which he intended to replace with a dictatorship inspired by Nazi ideology.

Kandula, born in Chandanagar, India, was a lawful permanent resident of the US and held a green card. He pleaded guilty on May 13, 2024, to charges of willful injury to US property. In addition to his prison sentence, Kandula was ordered to serve three years of supervised release by District Court Judge Dabney L. Friedrich.

According to court records, Kandula flew from St. Louis, Missouri, to Washington, D.C., on a one-way ticket on May 22, 2023. Upon arriving at Dulles International Airport, he rented a truck and drove into Washington, stopping briefly for food and gas. By 9:35 pm, Kandula deliberately crashed the rented truck into security barriers near the White House at the intersection of H Street Northwest and 16th Street Northwest. The impact caused the truck to smoke and leak fluids, forcing it to stop after a second attempt to ram the barriers.

After exiting the vehicle, Kandula retrieved a Nazi flag from his backpack and displayed it. Officers from the US Park Police and Secret Service quickly arrested him at the scene.

Investigations revealed Kandula’s intent to seize political power and establish a dictatorship, admitting that he was prepared to kill the US President and others to achieve his goals. His actions caused USD 4,322 in damages to the National Park Service, including repair costs for barriers and cleaning up the crash site.

The Department of Justice disclosed that Kandula had been planning the attack for weeks. He attempted to hire armed guards and rent large vehicles multiple times but failed. This meticulous preparation highlighted the seriousness of his intent, making his sentencing a significant step in ensuring accountability.