Brandon Clint Russell, a 30-year-old from Orlando, Florida, has been sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for conspiring to damage or destroy electrical facilities in Maryland. The sentencing was delivered by Senior U.S. District Judge James K. Bredar and includes a lifetime of supervised release.
The announcement was made by Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, along with FBI officials William J. DelBagno and Matthew Fodor.
“Russell allowed hatred to drive him and his co-conspirator to plot a dangerous scheme that could have harmed thousands of people,” Hayes said. “The sentence imposed today reflects the gravity of Russell’s egregious conduct and his ongoing threat to public safety. This conviction underscores our unwavering commitment to dismantling violent extremist threats and holding accountable anyone who dares to conspire to endanger the lives of others.”
DelBagno highlighted the cooperation among law enforcement agencies: “Swift and thorough coordination from our law enforcement partners through the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force disrupted this significant threat to Maryland,” he said. “I am proud of the dedicated FBI agents and analysts who worked this case from Maryland to Florida. This investigation shows the commitment and broad reach of the FBI to ensure those plotting harm are brought to justice.”
Fodor commented on the broader implications: “This case illustrates the FBI’s vigilance in defending the homeland from radical violent extremists like Brandon Russell,” he said. “Our strong partnerships, resources, and resilience exemplifies our commitment to disrupting hate-filled campaigns intended to harm our communities.”
Sarah Beth Clendaniel, 37, from Catonsville, Maryland, was previously sentenced by Judge Bredar to 18 years in prison with a lifetime of supervised release for her role as Russell's co-conspirator.
Evidence presented at trial showed that between November 2022 and February 3, 2023, Russell conspired to attack critical infrastructure—specifically transformers at electrical substations—as part of racially or ethnically motivated extremist beliefs. He posted links online showing locations of substations and discussed how attacking several at once could cause widespread power outages.
Russell recruited Clendaniel for attacks targeting Baltimore-area energy facilities involved in electricity transmission and distribution. The plan aimed for significant disruption with intended monetary losses estimated above $75 million.
Clendaniel identified five substations as targets while Russell tried securing a weapon for her use. She allegedly claimed that attacking multiple substations in one day would “completely destroy this whole city,” adding that damaging them with several shots would be enough for lasting impact.
Hayes commended both local and national law enforcement agencies including FBI Baltimore, FBI Tampa Field Office, Joint Terrorism Task Force, Maryland State Police, Baltimore County Police Department, FBI Washington Field Office, DOJ National Security Division, and Middle District of Florida U.S. Attorney’s Office for their roles in investigating and prosecuting the case.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for Maryland participates in United Against Hate—a Justice Department initiative designed to connect law enforcement with marginalized communities across https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach—and encourages reporting hate crimes via local FBI channels.
Further information about priorities or community resources can be found at https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/. To report suspected hate crimes based in Maryland contact (410) 265-8080 or tips.fbi.gov.
