Brandon Russell, 29, the founder of the neo-Nazi group Atomwaffen Division, has been found guilty of conspiring to attack Maryland’s power grid. A federal jury convicted him for his role in planning a large-scale assault on electrical substations in Baltimore. The goal of the plot was to cause widespread power outages, which would mainly affect the predominantly Black population of the city.
Inside the Plot to Target Baltimore
Russell collaborated closely with his ex-girlfriend, Sarah Beth Clendaniel, to organize synchronized sniper strikes on Baltimore’s electrical infrastructure, according to the prosecution. In order to cause disruption and interfere with daily life, the plan called for sabotaging five important electrical substations. The plot, according to officials, was racially motivated and intended to incite societal upheaval.
The conspiracy was uncovered before any damage could be done, and both Russell and Clendaniel were arrested in February 2023. Authorities intercepted their communications and found detailed plans to carry out the attacks.
Federal Jury’s Decision and Sentencing
After a six-day trial, Russell was found guilty of conspiracy to damage an energy facility. The maximum sentence for this crime is 20 years in prison. The court has not yet announced a sentencing date.
Russell’s co-conspirator, Clendaniel, pleaded guilty earlier and was sentenced to 18 years in prison. Prosecutors argued that the plot was not only well thought out but also posed a real threat to public safety had it not been stopped in time.
Russell’s Criminal History
Legal issues are nothing new to Russell. After police found bomb-making materials, neo-Nazi literature, and unregistered harmful devices in his Florida home in 2018, he was given a five-year prison sentence. These documents were connected by authorities to an earlier investigation into a double murder that was carried out by another member of the Atomwaffen Division.
Reaction from Law Enforcement
Law enforcement officials emphasized that this case demonstrates the ongoing threat posed by domestic extremists. FBI agents involved in the investigation commended the swift action that prevented what could have been a major attack.
