Federal Charges Follow a Midnight Arrest
Ronny Guanipa-Chrinos, 26, a Venezuelan national, faces federal charges after his arrest near the White House. U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro said he was charged Monday with threatening the president, threatening to injure another person, unlawfully possessing firearms and ammunition, and possessing a stolen vehicle. The arrest came shortly before midnight on November 5. A Secret Service agent noticed his Ford F-150 parked on Constitution Avenue near the White House and found him asleep at the wheel. A parked truck thus became a federal case with serious security implications.
Three Firearms Were Found in the Truck
A search of the pickup turned up three firearms: a submachine gun-style pistol, an AR-style rifle, and a Glock pistol. Agents also found 72 rounds of ammunition. Prosecutors allege Guanipa-Chrinos told them a voice in his head told him to drive to Washington, D.C., and kill President Trump. That statement is part of the government’s case, not a conviction. Pirro credited the Secret Service with preventing a potentially deadly incident and said, “Our nation’s capital is not the place to plan or act out crimes of violence.”
Because of the swift action of Secret Service officers, an illegal alien possessing firearms that included a sub-machine gun, an assault rifle, and a pistol, was stopped in a stolen pickup near the White House grounds. In addition to those weapons, he possessed dozens of rounds… https://t.co/eV8XYGs5lE pic.twitter.com/vS2aofNwmB
— US Attorney Pirro (@USAttyPirro) November 10, 2026
Border History Adds Another Layer
Pirro also said Guanipa-Chrinos admitted entering the country illegally in 2025. The announcement noted that Customs and Border Protection agents had previously detained him near El Paso, Texas, in March 2024 after he crossed the southern border from Mexico. He was later released by the Biden administration. That timeline is now part of the debate over border enforcement and release decisions. Political arguments move quickly, but the federal case will focus on the specific charges and the evidence supporting them.
Defendant Remains Detained
Guanipa-Chrinos appeared Monday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Moxila Upadhyaya and was ordered detained as the federal case proceeds. The allegations involve threats against the president, weapons possession, ammunition, and a vehicle prosecutors say was stolen. He has not been convicted, and the government must prove each charge in court. For now, the Secret Service response and the judge’s detention order are the clearest developments in a case that began with an agent checking a truck parked close to the White House.
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