A Maryland woman pleaded guilty on Tuesday to a plot to sabotage the Baltimore power grid, driven by extremist white supremacist ideology aimed at government collapse.
Sarah Beth Clendaniel and Brandon Russell allegedly conspired to disable five Baltimore substations in an effort to disrupt the city’s entire power supply and sow chaos. Federal prosecutors revealed their scheme after an FBI informant, engaged by Clendaniel and Russell, recorded conversations outlining their plan.
Clendaniel’s recorded remarks expressed a desire to “completely destroy this whole city” by targeting substations encircling Baltimore. Russell, associated with a violent extremist group, had prior plans to target critical infrastructure in Florida and is awaiting trial in connection to this plot.
U.S. Attorney Erek Barron emphasized the threat posed by Clendaniel’s “hate-fueled plans,” underlining the danger they posed to thousands of innocent lives.
The scheme was unraveled due to communication between Russell and Clendaniel while they were incarcerated in separate facilities since at least 2018. Russell, motivated by extremist beliefs, planned to attack substations to trigger a “cascading failure,” as detailed by FBI Special Agent Patrick Straub. Clendaniel, using the code name Nythra88, advocated for the destruction of substations’ cores.
Armed with a semi-automatic shotgun, Glock-style handgun, and ammunition, the duo intended to carry out their plan. Clendaniel, allegedly facing a terminal illness, expressed urgency to accomplish their goals before her anticipated death.
Their target, the Exelon Corporation and its subsidiary Baltimore Gas and Electric, confirmed the threat but assured the public that the plot was thwarted, and no damage occurred. However, they acknowledged the increasing frequency of threats in recent years and emphasized investments in grid security.
Russell’s association with the extremist group “Atomwaffen” underscored their adoption of accelerationism, a belief in violent action to precipitate societal collapse.
Clendaniel faces a potential maximum sentence of 35 years for conspiracy and gun charges, with sentencing scheduled for September 3. The attorney representing Clendaniel did not respond immediately to requests for comment.
Concerns over attacks on power grids have been longstanding, with federal officials cautioning against the vulnerability of America’s infrastructure. Several states have experienced similar threats, with domestic extremists identified as responsible for some attacks. The Southern Poverty Law Center has reported a surge in extremist organizations, indicating a troubling trend in recent years.
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