New Jersey Man Pleads Guilty to Supreme Court Bomb Threat

A New Jersey man has pleaded guilty to federal charges stemming from his attempt to threaten the U.S. Supreme Court and other institutions with homemade explosive devices outside a Washington, D.C., cathedral on the eve of an annual religious service attended by some justices.

Louis Geri, 52, of Vineland, entered the plea on Thursday in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. He faces two felony counts: illegal possession of a destructive device and extortion by wrongful use of force, violence or fear. Geri remains in custody pending his sentencing on July 27 before U.S. District Judge Randolph Moss. Prosecutors and Geri's defense have agreed to recommend a prison sentence of five years and 10 months to seven years and three months, though the judge is not bound by the proposal. If Moss imposes a harsher term, Geri could withdraw his guilty plea.

The incident unfolded on October 5, 2023, outside St. Matthew's Cathedral, the site of the annual Red Mass, a traditional Catholic service marking the start of the Supreme Court's term. The event draws members of the legal community, including Supreme Court justices, though none attended that year. As police cleared the area...