A Silver Spring man accused of storming the U.S. Capitol with a loaded handgun last year pleaded guilty Thursday to three felony charges in connection with the incident.

Carlos A. Greene, 21, admitted in federal court to charges of possession of more than 5 grams of cocaine, felony possession of a firearm and assaulting a police officer.

He faces five to 20 years in prison. His sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 27.

Authorities said Greene crashed a sport utility vehicle through a U.S. Capitol Police checkpoint last September, drove onto the grounds and into a stone wall.

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He eluded police by entering the U.S. Capitol through an unguarded entrance into the Rotunda.

Greene, who carried a .22-caliber handgun, raced down four flights of stairs before he was tackled in the House Flag Room by a U.S. Capitol employee.

The security breach had been an embarrassment for the U.S. Capitol Police department. Then-acting Chief Christopher McGaffin was forced to apologize to lawmakers.

McGaffin admitted that police failed to respond to radio messages that warned of the gunman, a police cruiser was parked in the wrong position to stop him, and the supervisor who was supposed to guard the Rotunda entrance was on a 13-week leave for compensatory time.

smccabe@dcexaminer.com