Maryland Woman Sentenced for Power Grid Plot

Sarah Beth Clendaniel, 36, of Catonsville, Maryland, was sentenced to 18 years in federal prison for plotting to attack five power substations in Baltimore to further her white supremacist beliefs. Her co-conspirator, Brandon Clint Russell, is awaiting trial. The planned attack, which could have caused significant damage and left thousands without power, aimed to destabilize society and promote 'accelerationism,' a belief in precipitating societal collapse through violent action. Clendaniel pleaded guilty to conspiracy and possession of a firearm by a felon. Following her prison term, she will be under lifetime supervised release. This sentencing highlights the Justice Department's commitment to prosecuting those who target critical infrastructure.