Neo-Nazi chief and Maryland girl allegedly plotted to ‘utterly destroy’ Baltimore, Justice Division says

Two folks charged with conspiracy to break power services – a neo-Nazi chief and a girl with whom he had a private relationship – allegedly deliberate to assault electrical substations encircling Baltimore and “utterly destroy” your entire metropolis, in response to federal courtroom paperwork.

The Justice Division has charged Brandon Clint Russell and Sarah Beth Clendaniel with conspiracy to break power services, alleging that the Maryland-focused plot was pushed by ethnically or racially motivated extremist beliefs.

They “conspired to inflict most hurt on the ability grid,” Tom Sobocinski, who heads the FBI’s discipline workplace in Baltimore, mentioned throughout a information convention Monday. “The accused weren’t simply speaking, however taking steps to meet their threats and additional their extremist targets.”

The fees come as home violence consultants have warned that makes an attempt by extremist teams to assault energy services are trending up.

Clendaniel will make her preliminary look at Baltimore’s federal courthouse at 2 p.m. ET, and Russell will seem at a courthouse in Florida at 1:30 p.m. ET, in response to the Justice Division.

CNN was unable to succeed in the defendants or their legal professionals for remark.

In a recorded voice dialog final month, Clendaniel allegedly instructed the FBI supply that focusing on the services would “utterly destroy this complete metropolis.” She and Russell allegedly despatched the supply details about the services, and in response to the charging papers, Russell despatched the supply a YouTube video a couple of current substation assault in North Carolina.

The FBI additionally obtained a doc allegedly written by Clendaniel that authorities say resembles a manifesto. In it, she allegedly references Hitler, in addition to Unabomber Ted Kaczynski and the perpetrator of the 2011 terrorist assault in Norway.

Russell, in response to the the charging paperwork, ascribes to having neo-Nazi beliefs and had began his personal native Nationwide Socialist Group.

Earlier than allegedly conspiring to assault the Maryland energy grid, authorities say he had plotted along with his roommates in Florida to assault power services there. That alleged plot was revealed throughout an investigation into the 2017 homicide of two of Russell’s roommates by one other roommate.

Regulation enforcement officers at Monday’s information convention described Russell and Clendaniel as having each a private and on-line relationship, however didn’t elaborate additional.

The Justice Division says that Russell, allegedly beneath the username “Homunculus,” has been in touch with the FBI’s supply since no less than June of final yr. Homunculus allegedly made a number of statements to the supply all through 2022 about attacking vital infrastructure.

At one level, as Homunculus and the supply mentioned Mylar balloons, Homunculus allegedly mentioned that “placing holes in transformers although is the best factor any person can do,” and he allegedly floated different concepts to the supply about attacking electrical substations.

Clendaniel, mentioned to be going by the username “Nythra88” and “Kali1889,” launched herself to the FBI’s confidential supply final month, in response to the charging papers. She allegedly instructed the supply she wished “to perform one thing worthwhile,” earlier than she died of a terminal sickness, as she sought assist acquiring firearms.

The supply mentioned the plans with Homunculus for Clendaniel to take part in an assault on power services, and the supply additionally taped a virtually two-hour voice dialog he had with Clendaniel on January 24 concerning the plot, in response to the charging papers.

In a separate dialog 5 days later, Clendaniel instructed the supply in a recorded voice dialog that the targets had been services surrounding Baltimore.

This story has been up to date with extra particulars.

Correction: A earlier model of this story misidentified the placement of a 2011 terrorist assault that happened in Norway.