Pennsylvania Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Charge In Confrontation With Law Enforcement Near the White House Defendant Was Shot After He Refused Repeated Commands to Drop Handgun
WASHINGTON – Jesse A. Olivieri, 31, of Ashland, Pa., pled guilty today to a federal charge stemming from a confrontation with law enforcement in which he brandished a gun near the White House, announced U.S. Attorney Channing D. Phillips and Robert D. MacLean, Chief of the United States Park Police.
Olivieri pled guilty before the Honorable Senior Judge Royce C. Lamberth of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to resisting or impeding certain officers or employees with a dangerous weapon.
The charge carries a statutory maximum of 20 years in prison and potential financial penalties. Under federal sentencing guidelines, he faces a likely range of eight to 14 months in prison and a potential fine of up to $40,000. No sentencing date was set.
According to a statement of offense, signed by the defendant as well as the government, on May 20, 2016, at about 3:05 p.m., Olivieri was seen in a car that was parked on the north side of the 1600 block of Constitution Avenue NW. Moments later, witnesses heard a gunshot and observed Olivieri holding a silver handgun and standing outside his vehicle. He was then seen walking quickly north through the grass toward the south lawn of the White House.
A short time later, U.S. Secret Service Uniform Division Officers observed Olivieri pass through the security gate near the southwest grounds of the White House, in the 1600 block of E Street NW. He was proceeding quickly towards the security gate near E Street and South Place NW, still openly holding a silver handgun in his right hand, pointed toward the ground. Secret Service officers repeatedly ordered him to stop, but he ignored their commands and continued to walk toward the White House.
At that point, a Secret Service agent confronted him, again ordering him to halt and drop the weapon. When Olivieri refused, the agent shot him once. A silver .22-caliber semi-automatic handgun was recovered from Olivieri. It contained one round of ammunition in the chamber and eight rounds in the magazine. In addition,
Olivieri’s car was located, and an empty holster, 15 rounds of .22-caliber ammunition, and a canister of pepper spray were found by law enforcement inside the vehicle. A spent .22-caliber shell casing was found nearby, in the westbound travel lanes of Constitution Avenue NW.
Today’s plea hearing took place at a hospital in Washington, D.C., where Olivieri continues to receive treatment related to the injuries that he sustained in the incident.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice press release
