Louis Geri, a 42-year-old man from Vineland, New Jersey, has been sentenced to 70 months in federal prison for threatening to detonate over 100 homemade explosive devices during the annual Red Mass at St. Matthew’s Cathedral. The sentencing, announced by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, follows Geri’s guilty plea to charges of Hobbs Act extortion and possession of an unregistered firearm, both related to a serious incident that unfolded on October 5, 2025.
According to court documents, Geri arrived at the cathedral on the evening before the Red Mass and set up a tent on the steps, where he assembled the explosive devices using materials he had purchased in Arkansas and assembled in Virginia. The Red Mass is a prominent religious service attended by U.S. Supreme Court Justices and other high-ranking officials, making Geri’s actions particularly alarming. In addition to the prison term, Judge Randolph M. Moss mandated three years of supervised release following Geri’s incarceration.
On the morning of the event, Metropolitan Police officers discovered Geri’s tent during a patrol and attempted to remove him. Geri reportedly threatened to demonstrate the explosive devices’ power if his demands – which included financial payments, hotel accommodations, and radical political changes – were not met. Law enforcement was able to apprehend him shortly after, discovering one explosive device in his possession and over 100 others in his tent, all confirmed to be operable by FBI testing.
U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro emphasized the severity of Geri’s conduct, noting that such threats against a sacred space and community event undermine the fundamental right to worship freely. The case highlights ongoing concerns about extremist threats and the safety of notable public gatherings.
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