Pittsburgh Couple Sentenced for Protest-Related Assaults

Brian DiPippa, 37, was sentenced to five years in prison, and his wife Krystal DiPippa, 42, received three years of probation for obstructing law enforcement during a chaotic protest at the University of Pittsburgh in April 2023. Brian ignited and threw homemade incendiary devices into a crowd and launched a large explosive firework at police officers, injuring several. The couple has been ordered to pay over $50,000 in restitution to the university and a police officer injured in the incident. U.S. Attorney Eric Olshan stated that their actions were a conspiracy to cause chaos and harm law enforcement, emphasizing the need for deterrence against such conduct. The FBI also reinforced its commitment to prosecuting those who attack law enforcement. This case underscores the serious legal consequences for obstructing law enforcement during public demonstrations.