Neo-Nazi leader found guilty in plot to attack Maryland power grid

The Florida person of a Neo-Nazi radical has been recovered blameworthy of readying to onslaught the Maryland powerfulness grid.

Brandon Russell, 29, of Orlando, was found blameworthy successful the U.S. District Court successful Baltimore of 1 number of conspiracy to harm an vigor facility aft the assemblage deliberated for little than an hr pursuing a six-day trial.

Russell, the laminitis of Atomwaffen Division, plotted to onslaught electrical substations successful the Baltimore country and propulsion the metropolis into chaos, prosecutors said.

His co-conspirator, 36-year-old Sarah Beth Clendaniel, pleaded guilty last May for her relation successful the terroristic plan. She was sentenced to 18 years successful prison.

According to prosecutors, Russell recruited Clendaniel and was advising her connected however to get weapons and which substations to target, with the program calling for a fig of incidents crossed months successful hopes of causing a “cascading failure.”

The 2 were arrested successful 2023.

Russell faces a maximum of 20 years successful prison. He’s being held astatine the Chesapeake Detention Facility with sentencing scheduled for a aboriginal date.

“Hate-fueled unit has nary spot successful a civilized society,” Maryland U.S. Attorney Erek Barron said. “Brandon Russell went good beyond his First Amendment rights, orchestrating a violent crippled that would’ve harmed thousands of guiltless people. It won’t ever beryllium popular, but this bureau volition bash the close thing, the close way, for the close reason.”