Maryland Woman & Florida Man Charged in Targeted Plot to Attack Maryland’s Electrical Substations
Two people have been arrested for conspiracy to destroy an energy facility. Sarah Beth Clendaniel of Catonsville appeared in US District Court in Baltimore this afternoon. Brandon Clint Russell of Orlando, FL was also charged and appeared this afternoon in US District Court in Orlando.
The affidavit filed in support of the criminal complaint by the US Attorney for the District of Maryland and agents from the Baltimore Field Office of the FBI shows that from June of 2022 to the present, Russell conspired to carry out attacks against critical infrastructure – specifically electrical substations. Clendaniel conspired on a plan to carry out the attacks and conspired to secure a weapon and identified five substations she planned to target.
If convicted, Russell and Clendaniel each face a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison for conspiracy to damage an energy facility.
Maryland Governor Wes Moore today issued the following statement regarding the FBI investigation and intervention in preventing planned attacks on Maryland’s electrical substations.
“I want to commend the F.B.I. and our state homeland security team for their swift action in preventing a potentially catastrophic attack on several of Maryland’s electrical substations. Our state and local law enforcement authorities are working in partnership with the F.B.I. to assist with any follow-up investigative work they need. This collaborative effort is vital to protecting critical infrastructure across Maryland, and I’m grateful to the men and women protecting our state.”
