Maryland

Neo-Nazi leader found guilty of plotting Maryland power grid attack

Published

11 months ago

February 4, 2025

Neo-Nazi leader found guilty of plotting Maryland power grid attack

A man was found guilty of conspiracy to damage an energy facility after officials say he planned to attack transformers inside Maryland electrical substations and cause a “cascading failure” in the name of white supremacy.

A federal jury found 29-year-old Brandon Russell of Orlando, Florida, guilty after a six-day trial, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the District of Maryland announced Monday.

According to court documents obtained by USA TODAY, Russell admitted to having “National Socialist,” or Nazi, beliefs and previously started his own national socialist group that targets racial minorities, the Jewish community, the LGBTQIA community, the U.S. government, journalists and critical infrastructure.

Officials said that between November 2022 and February 3, 2023, Russell planned to attack “critical infrastructure” such as transformers located within electrical substations. Officials said he made the plans due to racist and “violent extremist beliefs.”

While planning the attacks on the transformers, Russell allegedly noted that just a few attacks could lead to “cascading failure.”

A lawyer for Russell declined to comment Tuesday morning.

Prosecutors: Man recruited Maryland woman to enact his plan

Russell planned to have Maryland-based woman Sarah Beth Clendaniel help him carry out the attacks in Baltimore and other areas, the Department of Justice (DOJ) said in its news release.

According to the DOJ, Clendaniel and Russell were plotting to significantly damage Baltimore’s regional power grid, which could’ve cost more than $75 million to fix.

He also told an unnamed, confidential source for the Federal Bureau of Investigation that attacks are best made “when there is greatest strain on the grid,” like “when everyone is using electricity to either heat or cool their homes,” according to court documents.

Officials quoted Clendaniel, who said if they hit enough substations within 24 hours, they could “completely destroy this whole city” and the damage would “probably permanently completely lay this city to waste if we could do that successfully.”

According to the court documents, Clendaniel told Russell she had a terminal kidney illness and most likely wouldn’t live for longer than a few more months. She said she was a felon and wasn’t able to get a gun herself. She wanted to “accomplish something worthwhile” before her death, and wanted a gun “within the next couple of weeks,” court documents show.

U.S. District Judge Bredar sentenced Clendaniel to 18 years in federal prison and a lifetime of supervised release in September 2024, the DOJ said. She was also sentenced to a concurrent sentence of 15 years for being a felon in possession of a firearm and three years of supervised release.

Florida man led his own Nazi group in 2017

According to court documents, Russell lived with three roommates in 2017 and led a Neo-Nazi group. His three roommates were part of the group when one of them, Devon Arthurs, left and converted to Islam. According to Arthurs, two of their roommates bullied him for being Muslim. He then killed them.

Arthurs told police that Russell was the leader of the Neo-Nazi group, and that Russell and their other two roommates had been planning to attack U.S. infrastructure, according to court documents.

Russell was charged with and pleaded guilty to possession of an unregistered destructive device and improper storage of explosive materials, court documents show. He was sentenced to 60 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release.

“Russell has served his sentence and is currently on supervised release,” officials wrote in Feb. 2023.

Russell is now facing a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison for conspiracy to damage an energy facility. Senior United States District Judge James K. Bredar will decide his sentence, but as of Tuesday, no sentencing date has been scheduled.

Special Agent in Charge William J. DelBagno condemned Russell’s actions in the news release, calling him a “self-proclaimed National Socialist.”

“Today’s verdict reinforces there is no tolerance for those who seek to harm our communities and use violence to further hate-filled beliefs,” DelBagno said.

Saleen Martin is a reporter on USA TODAY’s NOW team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia – the 757. Email her at sdmartin@usatoday.com.

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Maryland

Arrest made after $40K worth of HVAC units stolen in Maryland, over 10 businesses impacted

Published

20 hours ago

January 9, 2026

Press Room

Arrest made after K worth of HVAC units stolen in Maryland, over 10 businesses impacted

CHARLES COUNTY, Md. (7News) — A Maryland man has been arrested in connection with a string of thefts targeting heating and air conditioning units that impacted more than 10 businesses across the region, authorities said.

On Dec. 31, 2025, detectives with the Charles County Sheriff’s Office, working alongside investigators from the Prince George’s County Police Department, took Thomas Guinyard, 30, of Hyattsville, into custody.

Charles County deputies said Guinyard has several active arrest warrants tied to the theft of heat pumps and air conditioning units valued at more than $40,000.

Authorities said the thefts caused widespread disruption to local businesses, with investigators confirming that more than 10 were affected.

SEE ALSO | Man accused of stealing circuit breakers from nearly 50 Maryland homes

When deputies tried to approach him, Guinyard allegedly ran away but was apprehended without further incident, according to the sheriff’s office. During the arrest, deputies said they learned the vehicle Guinyard was driving had been reported stolen.

Guinyard faces a charge of theft and destruction of property. He is being held without bond at the Charles County Detention Center.

Investigators continue to review the case to figure out whether more charges or related thefts may be connected to Guinyard, the sheriff’s office said.

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Maryland

Md. Gov. Moore touts public safety funding increase, even with crime continuing to drop – WTOP News

Published

1 day ago

January 9, 2026

Press Room

Md. Gov. Moore touts public safety funding increase, even with crime continuing to drop – WTOP News

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore noted the continuing decrease in crime across the state and shared a proposal to spend $124.1 million on public safety in the next fiscal year budget.

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore speaks alongside Prince George’s County
Executive Aisha Braveboy and Police Chief George Nader(WTOP/John Domen)

Maryland lawmakers return to Annapolis next week, and plugging a roughly $1 billion budget hole will be one of many items on their agenda as the 2026 session gets underway.

This week, Gov. Wes Moore has been touting parts of the budget he’ll be unveiling, to go with legislation he intends to champion in Annapolis.

On Thursday, he stood in front of a huge gathering of police, federal law enforcement and prosecutors at the Maryland State Police Barracks in College Park to talk about the continuing decrease in crime and share a proposal to spend $124.1 million on public safety in the next budget.

“That is the highest level of funding in our state’s history, and a $2.3 million increase over last year’s budget,” Moore said. “These are real resources for local police departments all throughout the state of Maryland.”

He said the funding will support overtime patrolling and new equipment that “officers need to make sure they are doing their job safely and that they can get home to their families.”

Moore also took issue with the premise, often posed to Democrats, that you have to choose between siding with law enforcement or siding with “the community,” arguing that he does both “unapologetically.” He also promised that his plan for public safety is both urgent and strategic.

“This is backed by data and built on three core pillars,” Moore said. “Provide the resources and the support that law enforcement needs; build stronger, more vibrant communities that leave no one behind; and coordinate all aspects of government and community to make sure that our streets are safer.”

As he enters the final year of his term, Moore highlighted a 25% reduction in homicides around the state, to a number he said is the lowest in 40 years. He also touted a 50% violent crime reduction and a sharp drop in non-fatal shootings.

“This is not trends or vibes. It happens because we made smart investments, and it happened because we chose to do something really unique — work together,” Moore said. “We are standing here coordinated, bipartisan, nonpartisan, knowing that community safety does not have a partisan bend and protecting our neighbors does not have a political affiliation.”

At the same time, Moore said he wasn’t taking a victory lap about the heartening trends in crime just yet.

“We are making progress, yes, but we will not rest until everybody and all of our communities feel safe,” he said. “Too often, false choices will dominate the public safety debate. Do we want to hold criminals accountable, or do we want to focus on rehabilitation? We’re told to pick a side without understanding that’s not how people live.”

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