A Missouri man has been sentenced to eight years in federal prison for attempting to attack the White House with a rented U-Haul truck in May 2023. Sai Varshith Kandula, 20, aimed to overthrow the U.S. government and establish a Nazi-inspired dictatorship, according to the U.S. attorney's office in Washington, D.C.

Kandula, a lawful permanent resident originally from India, pleaded guilty to willfully damaging U.S. government property. He flew one-way from St. Louis to Washington, D.C., rented the truck, and intentionally crashed it into security barriers near the White House. Following the crash, he waved a flag bearing a swastika.

Court documents reveal that Kandula had been planning the attack for weeks, including seeking armed security personnel and attempting to rent larger commercial vehicles. He admitted to authorities that he would have resorted to violence, including killing President Biden and others, to achieve his goals.

The incident caused over $4,000 in damage to the National Park Service. The Secret Service, FBI, U.S. Park Police, and Metropolitan Police Department investigated the case.